Colin Stone received a standing ovation as he collected the 2019 NPA Chris Brant Award on Monday night.
Colin, Wayland’s breeding farms manager, received the award from Richard Longthorp at the National Pig Awards in London.
On a night when Norfolk-based Wayland was named Outdoor Producer of the Year, Colin, who won the 2018 Special Achievement Award, said he was ‘humbled’ to receive the Chris Brant Award, which recognises those who go the ‘extra mile’ on behalf of the industry.
Mr Longthorp highlighted Colin’s ‘sheer cussedness to not simply accept the status quo’ and said he had been at the centre of ‘significant change in our industry’, having on various industry bodies.
Richard said many previous winners of the Chris Brant Award have all had ‘that edge about them’ that characterised the pig industry hero it was named after.
“And this year’s winner was clearly hewn from the same rock. But, as with others, using his edginess always with a purpose and always with the interests of the pig industry and those in it at heart.
“He has been the energy and drive behind some key industry initiatives.
“But his most ‘endearing’ – if I can use the word liberally – characteristic and quality is that if anything needs challenging, he will always step up, speak out and challenge. He will never sit quietly by and let stuff pass just to maintain the peace.
“Whether you agree with him or not, you can’t just ignore him.”
“Through this sheer cussedness to not simply accept the status quo, he has been at the centre of significant change in our industry; having worked for BPEX and been on NPA Producer Group as well as being a vocal contributor to the Red Tractor Pork Board.
“Think biosecurity, think training. More specifically think lorry wash. Think East of England Training Group.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please be upstanding for this year’s winner of the CBA – think and thank Colin Stone.”
You can read more about Colin and his achievements here
