[caption id="attachment_5396" align="aligncenter" width="300"] SILVER SALVER: Sulwyn Thomas and Nick Somerfield (right) receive their awards in 2005 from FUW president Gareth Vaughan.[/caption]

Former chairman and president of the FUW’s Carmarthenshire county branch Nick Somerfield, who was made a life member in 2011, has sadly passed away.

Seventy-eight-year-old Nicholas John Somerfield, or Nick as he was known to everyone, was brought up in Send, near Woking in Surrey.

A naval engineer during National Service, he gained promotion during operations in the Suez campaign and was offered a commission but, determined to follow his passion for farming, declined to take up the Surrey Scholarship he had been awarded and studied agriculture at Writtle in Essex.

Whilst a student he worked on the Guinness Estates for Lord Iveagh and on graduation he acquired a managerial post in Hampshire, where the 1,000-acre unit supported arable, livestock and hop-growing enterprises.

Following marriage to Kyra, the decision was made to realise the ambition of his own farm.  The move was made in 1963 to the contrasting location of Crug-las in the Brecon Beacons where hill livestock became the required option on the 220-acre hill unit.

Nick and his wife kept hardy Welsh mountain sheep and an equally tough suckler herd of Gelbvieh and Welsh Black  cows, as well as a small pedigree herd of British Toggenburg dairy goats.

The herd of dairy goats is one of the longest established in Wales from which stock has been exported worldwide during the past 30 years, many being sent to establish agricultural aid herds in Africa. Kyra has twice travelled throughout Ethiopia to evaluate these projects. 

Nick always joined in co-ordinating the collection of Welsh supplied stock and in promoting the work of FARM-Africa in support of the rural poor of that continent.

An FUW member for half a century, he was notably the first English person ever to have been given life membership of the union.

Chairman and member of the FUW parliamentary and land use committee for 22 years, Nick actively campaigned for the needs of smaller Welsh family farms, believing that socially, economically and environmentally they are the backbone of rural survival and essential for the Principality.

A National Park Forum, Wales Biodiversity Action Group and CCW liaison member he had also served for six years as an EPAC (Environmental Protection Action Committee) appointee.

He felt greatly honoured when, in 2005, he was awarded the FUW Silver Salver in recognition of his service to the union and to the agricultural industry in Wales.

Speaking about Mr Somerfield, FUW vice president Brian Walters said: "Nick was a person who could enter into debate with any politician or civil servant and do it in a pleasant way with strong argument and on a variety of topics.

“He was very good at handling consultation documents and dissecting them with the help of his lovely wife, Kyra. 

“He has always been a loyal member of the FUW at county and national level and I am sure he will be missed by the members, family and friends," added Mr Walters.

Exclusive tickets for a prime viewing location on the Farmers’ Union of Wales’ pavilion balcony alongside the main ring at Llanelwedd will be sold in a bid to raise final funds for children’s hospice charities T? Hafan and T? Gobaith on the Wednesday afternoon of the Royal Welsh Show.

FUW president Glyn Roberts said: “We are offering 12 people an exclusive chance to enjoy some Pimms and strawberries on the balcony on Wednesday July 22 between 2.30pm and 5pm to watch the Senior Welsh Cob Stallions, which is generally the highlight of the main ring events during the show.

“Tickets for this exclusive occasion can be purchased on a first-come first-served basis at from our head office in Aberystwyth and will cost £30 a ticket. There is also an opportunity to win two additional tickets to the event as part of a raffle prize during the Royal Welsh Show week. All proceeds raised will go towards our charities T? Hafan and T? Gobaith.”

“We announced our charitable causes at the Royal Welsh Show in 2013 and have since then held a myriad of events including an all Wales coast path walk, farmhouse breakfast functions, a Thanksgiving Gymanfa Gynu, Christmas card design competitions, wooden horse races, bingo evenings and most recently a very successful Noson Lawen. This function is the final push to raise some more money for these two very deserving hospices,” added Mr Roberts.

Cardiff-based T? Hafan and Oswestry-based Hope House Children’s Hospices which includes T? Gobaith at Conwy will share the proceeds of the fund and will be presented with the final cheque on Wednesday July 22 at the Royal Welsh Show.

“Back in 2013 we were hopeful that by the end of the next fundraising term the total amount raised by our members and supporters will be at least as much as the £50,000 handed over to the union’s last beneficiary Cancer Research Wales. It gives me immense pleasure to see that we have once again achieved our target,” added Mr Roberts.

For more information about the union’s fundraising activities please contact the FUW press office on 01970 820820.

[caption id="attachment_5375" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] New team at the helm (l-r) Brian Walters, Richard Vaughan, Brian Thomas, Eifion Huws, Glyn Roberts, Dewi Owen and Brian Bowen[/caption]

Following the election of Mr Glyn Roberts as president of the Farmers’ Union of Wales during the union’s annual general meeting on Monday (June 15), the rest of the influential finance and organisation committee members were revealed today.

Mr Roberts’s deputy will be Pembrokeshire beef and sheep farmer Brian Thomas, who is a past county chairman of the FUW in Pembrokeshire, and has previously sat on the FUW’s central tenant’s committee.

Brian was elected South Wales member of the central finance and organisation committee in 2011 and elected vice president of the FUW in 2013.

Speaking after his appointment, Brian Thomas said: “I would like to thank those who have voted for me to be the next deputy president of the union. It has been a pleasure to work alongside our former president Emyr Jones and I now look forward to working with our newly elected president Glyn Roberts.”

Mr Thomas runs a herd of pedigree beef shorthorn cattle and a sheep flock of 300 ewes as well as growing 80 acres of cereals on his 280-acre farm, Llwyncelyn Lan, Llanfyrnach. 

During the 1996 BSE outbreak, Mr Thomas lead the campaign in South West Wales opposing the importation of inferior beef into Wales.  In 1997 he led a group of 10 farmers to Tesco’s stand at the Royal Welsh Show to address them about the unfair way in which they were treating the industry.

Bovine TB is a subject which Brian is passionate about.  When his herd went down with the disease in the late 1990’s he commented in interviews that the disease would be more of a problem than BSE would ever be if it was not tackled.  Unfortunately, for many he has been proved right and currently he sits on the local working group for the Assembly’s Bovine TB Intensive Action Area in North Pembrokeshire, representing farmers in the area.

Carmarthenshire dairy farmer Brian Walters was re-elected one of the three vice presidents with Anglesey dairy farmers Eifion Huws and sheep farmer Richard Vaughan, of Tywyn, Meirionnydd, the other two.

Brian Walters, farms a 500-acre holding, with his wife Ann and sons Aled and Seimon, near Carmarthen. They have a dairy herd of 150 cows – some of which are pedigree Ayrshires – with 200 followers and 80 beef cattle.  They also run a self-catering farmhouse holiday unit and take pride in educating the occupants on the problems and joys of farming.

Mr Vaughan who runs a flock of 750 Welsh Mountain Sheep and approximately 30 store cattle farms at Pall Mall Farm, north of Tywyn, one of two holdings, totalling 550 acres. Most of the land is at Pant y Panel and Prysglwyd at Rhydymain, near Dolgellau.

Pall Mall Farm has been successfully diversified over the last forty years.  Outbuildings have been converted, two chalets built, and a caravan site established which, by today, has over 100 units.  He has also developed a successful business purchasing and renovating houses in Aberystwyth to be let out as flats and bed-sits.  Richard sees this as an important part of the business which brings in valuable extra income without taking him away too often from his farming activities.

He has been a keen and active supporter of the Farmers’ Union of Wales for many years and served as FUW Meirioneth county chairman between 2007-2009 and chairman of the union’s land use and parliamentary committee from 2006 to 2011.  Richard was North Wales member of the union’s central finance and organisation committee from 2010 before being elected vice president in June 2011. 

Mr Huws has been an active member of the finance and organisation committee for the past five years. He farms at Penrhos, Bodedern, a dairy farm with a 140-head pedigree Ayrshire herd which has an outstanding production and show record.

Mr Huws, a highly respected Ayrshire cattle judge, travels the length and breadth of the country, and in Europe, representing the dairy industry in the hope of acquiring better conditions and prices for farmers.

Mr Brian Bowen has been re-elected as South Wales member and Mr Dewi Owen joins the finance and organisation committee as its North Wales member.

Mr Bowen who served as FUW Brecon and Radnor vice chairman from 2008 was elected as its county chairman in 2010. He has been the Brecon and Radnor delegate on the FUW livestock, wool and marts committee since 2009 and currently serves as its vice chairman.

Mr Bowen farms at Pencoedcae Farm, Princetown, near Tredegar, where he runs a mixed suckler cow and hill sheep unit. The farm consists of 150 acres of owned land with a further 1000 rented acres and 1200 acres of common rights on three separate commons.  He runs the farm, along with his father, mother and son.

Brian is also chairman of Llangynider Common Association and chair of the Glastir Committee for Llangynider Common Association. He is an executive member of Buckland Manor Common and Gelligaer and Merthyr commons associations, as well as being past director on the board of the Hay and Brecon Farmers Co-op.

“I was very pleased that Brecon and Radnor proposed me as a candidate for the election to the central finance and organisation committee as I believe that it is up to my generation to ensure that family farming in Wales continues and is attractive to the younger generation.

“Having served one year as South Wales member on the finance and organisation committee already I look forward to contributing effectively to the union’s work, and I am pleased to continue in this key role to see through the challenges and major changes which lie ahead,” added Mr Bowen.

Mr Dewi Owen of Esgairgyfela, Aberdyfi, was born and raised on the family - an upland farm which keeps sheep and cattle.

He has been an active member of the FUW for approximately forty years and has served as FUW Meirionnydd county chairman as well as county president in the past.

Mr Owen owns a butcher shop in the village of Aberdyfi, which is run in conjunction with his son-in-law who is a qualified butcher. 

“I believe that the FUW is a strong voice for farmers in Wales and I thank those who have voted for me to join the finance and organisation committee as its North Wales member.  During my years with the union I have been a member of several committees and I look forward to representing the views of our members,” said Mr Owen.

[caption id="attachment_5372" align="aligncenter" width="682"] FUW president Glyn Roberts[/caption]

Farmers’ Union of Wales deputy president Glyn Roberts was elected as the union’s president during a meeting of its grand council in Aberystwyth yesterday (Monday, June 15). 

Mr Roberts of Dylasau Uchaf, Padog, Betws-Y-Coed, Conwy, who stepped up from deputy president, said: “ I would like to thank all those who have voted for me to be the next president of the Farmers’ Union of Wales.  

“We are indebted to our former president Emyr Jones for his leadership over the past four years and as we celebrate 60 years of fighting for family farms, I look forward to pro-actively continuing in the footsteps of my predecessors.  

“As president of this union I want to see the opportunities in problems rather than see problems in opportunities and would like to further a sustainable agricultural community which continues to be the backbone of our rural economies and culture.”  

In 1976 he completed a full-time course at Glynllifon, and not being a farmer’s son, he went to work as a shepherd at Dylasau Uchaf, Padog. 

In 1977 Glyn successfully submitted an application for the tenancy of a 100-acre upland farm, Ynys Wen, Ysbyty Ifan and also worked part-time during this period at Dylasau Uchaf. 

In 1983 Mr Roberts secured the tenancy of Dylasau Uchaf, a 350-acre farm owned by the National Trust, where he continues to farm with his wife Eleri. The couple have five children – three of which have graduated from Aberystwyth University and two of whom are students there now. 

Mr Roberts has been on the FUW finance and organisation committee as North Wales member from 2003 – 2004; FUW vice president from 2004-2011 and was elected as deputy president of the Farmers’ Union of Wales in 2011.  

He served as FUW chairman for Caernarfonshire  between 1999-2002; Llanrwst FUW Branch Chairman from 1990-1994; FUW national bilingualism and publicity committee chairman from 2001-2004,  represented Caernarfonshire on the FUW’s central tenants committee and Snowdonia National Park Committee between 1998-2002 ; he was also a member of the FUW’s Council between 1994-2002.  

Further to this, Mr Roberts has served as treasurer of the National Trust Tenants’ Society for the Ysbyty Ifan Estate since 1993 to present and he is the secretary of Ysbyty Ifan Sheepdog Trials, a post he has held since 1998.  

Glyn has lectured several times on agricultural issues and a personal highlight was lecturing on the Future of the Uplands at Glynllifon in 1997 and sharing the stage with head of the agriculture department of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth Professor Mike Haines and John Cameron from Scotland.   

Mr Roberts has also taken part in many television and radio programmes on agriculture.  

During 2006-2008 he was the FUW’s representative on the board of Hybu Cig Cymru and since 2008 serves as non-executive director on the board of Hybu Cig Cymru by Welsh Assembly Government appointment. 

In January 2001, Carwyn Jones AM visited Dylasau Uchaf and Ysbyty Ifan and Mr Roberts was responsible for preparing a comprehensive document looking at the inevitable link between agriculture and the future of rural communities, “The Importance of Agriculture in Rural Communities”.    

Mr Roberts led the first FUW delegation from Caernarfonshire to Brussels to discuss was E.I.D. back in October 2000. 

Glyn won the National Eisteddfod Farm Management competition which involved compiling a three-year plan  in August 1992 and in 1992 when Glynllifon College was faced with the threat of closure, Glyn was chosen as a member of a Working Group of three to look at the possibilities of keeping its doors open.