This year’s winner of the prestigious Royal Smithfield Club Bicentenary Trophy in recognition of his tremendous lifelong service to the red meat industry both in Wales and across the UK, is farmer and agricultural statesman Rees Roberts OBE.
Mr Roberts , who farms at Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, Oswestry Powys, was presented with his award at a lunch at the Butcher’s Hall, London, by the president of the Royal Smithfield Club John Coultrip.
Presenting the award Mr Coultrip highlighted Mr Roberts’ unstinting work within the red meat industry, including most recently having been the founding chairman of Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales), a position he held from HCC’s inception in 2003 until his retirement from the post last autumn.
Prior to that he had been Meat and Livestock Commission Commissioner for Wales and Chair of the Welsh Committee.
Additionally, Mr Roberts has been Chair of the Welsh Sheep Strategy, a member of the Welsh Assembly Food and Drink Advisory Group, a member of Welsh Assembly/WDA Agri Food Partnership Advisory Committee and chairman of Welsh Beef and Lamb Promotions.
He has also been voted Food Personality of the Year by Food and Industry Magazine and received a Farmers Union of Wales award for service to Welsh Agriculture.
Mr Coultrip said there was no doubting the exceptional service Mr Roberts had given to the Welsh farming industry and specifically the red meat sector. “He has been an ambassador for his country and its produce and his CV is proof positive of his commitment to farming and livestock production.
“It gives me great pleasure to award the Royal Smithfield Bicentenary Trophy to such a worthy winner. Mr Roberts’ involvement in the Welsh red meat sector has been unstinting and to the benefit of all.”
In nominating Mr Roberts Royal Welsh Agricultural Society chief executive Dai Walters said Mr Roberts was a highly respected and enthusiastic man who was dedicated to everything he undertook. “There is no doubt in my mind that without the leadership and determination of Rees Roberts Welsh Beef and Welsh Lamb would not have achieved the coveted EU PGI status.”
Mr Roberts is aged 59 and was awarded the OBE in 2002 for services to agriculture. Married to Sally, the couple have two daughters - Bethan and Ceri.
The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Byford, DBE (immediate past President), with J. Rees Roberts (2011 award winner) receiving trophy from John Coultrip (President) with Angus Stovold (Chairman)