An East Yorkshire farmer in Beswick near Beverley has been named as the North East’s first NFU Community Farming Hero.
For more than 30 years, John Duggleby has worked to prevent persistent flooding from ravaging local farming and rural communities.
In addition to his tireless campaigning for better water management following the 2007 floods and again in 2018, Graham Stuart, Mr Duggleby’s MP, nominated him for the award.
In this year’s inaugural NFU Awards, eight regional winners recognize and celebrate the contributions farmers make to the local community, whether they maintain the landscapes people like to visit, help neighbours in times of extreme weather, or raise money for local charities.
More than 100 farmers have been nominated by MPs from across the country. A special event was held in Westminster. There the overall regional winners on Back British Farming Day were given their awards.
Being a longstanding volunteer of the Beverley and North Holderness Internal Drainage Board, John farms a mile from the River Hull.
For more than 15 years, he served as its chairman, and he argued for increased river maintenance. This has reduced the risk of flooding as well as preserved farmland productivity, benefiting farm businesses and the rural economy as a whole.
East Yorkshire Farmer Thinks Of The Other Guy
Regarding his award, John recalled his school headmaster urging pupils to ‘think of the other guy’. “That’s what I have tried to do.”
In addition to helping to shape a strategic approach to flood risk management in the River Hull catchment, Mr Stuart said:
“I would like to congratulate John Duggleby on being named the North East Community Farming Hero 2022 by the NFU.”
“He has been a passionate champion for the farming industry over the last three decades and has consistently supported the local community during difficult times.”
“He is a great asset to Beverley and Holderness and the British farming industry. Congratulations John.”
A long-term colleague of John’s, Bill Symons, is Clerk to the Beverley and North Holderness IDB. He said:
“I am delighted that John is being presented with this award. He has always shown a real passion for our work. I’m sure everyone involved with the Board will join me in congratulating him and thanking him for the dedication and enthusiasm he has shown over the years. Not to mention his support for the wider farming community.”
