North Lincolnshire producer, John Godfrey CBE, has been awarded the National Pig Association’s first lifetime fellowship in recognition of his “exceptional service to the British pig industry”.
The association’s board and producer group unanimously voted to bestow the fellowship on Mr Godfrey, who, together with the late Sir Ben Gill, was responsible for bringing the NFU pig committee and the commercial arm of the British Pig Association together to form the National Pig Association (NPA) in 1999.
“Pig producers had been calling for a single voice for the country’s commercial pig sector for many years but it took two exceptionally talented men, both respected and trusted by farmers, to overcome the obstacles and make it happen,” said NPA chairman, Richard Lister.
NPA producer group chairman, Phil Stephenson, added: “I am delighted we are recognising John in this way. NPA has proved itself to be an exceptional trade association which consistently punches above its weight and without his wisdom and foresight, none of it would have happened.”
Tributes were also paid by NPA allied industry group chairman, Hugh Crabtree, who praised Mr Godfrey’s “clear vision” for the industry and NPA chief executive, Dr Zoe Davies, who added: “Many of us rely on him for his knowledge of pig production economics and his wisdom in helping us plot a way forward in a cyclical and sometimes volatile sector that doesn’t benefit from a subsidised safety net.”
Mr Godfrey was NPA’s first chairman and the family link remains today with his nephew Sam Godfrey being recently elected as vice-chairman of NPA producer group.
Awarded the CBE in 1998 for services to the British pig industry, is also a former chairman of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.
The headline image of Mr Godfrey (pictured above) was taken while he was High Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 2010-11.
