NEW CHALLENGE . . . (From left) Out-going chairman Andrew Collier with in-coming chairman David Brookes and vice chairman Alan Warrington. Mr Brookes is a former mayor of Uttoxeter and owns a farm in Lower Loxley with a 160-strong herd.A PASSIONATE Uttoxeter dairy farmer and former holder of the town’s mayoral chains has taken on a new role championing his industry.
David Brookes, former Uttoxeter mayor and borough councillor, has been named the next county chairman of the National Farmers Union (NFU)
The Lower Loxley farmer, who was a vocal voice in the campaign for fairer milk prices throughout 2012, was elected unopposed at an industry meeting near Stafford last week.
Around 50 farmers and industry representatives attended the Staffordshire NFU annual general meeting at the county showground where the appointment was announced.
Mr Brookes said: “I would like to thank you all for your support and I hope to give the chairman’s post the fullness of my time over the next two years.
“I look forward to being able to serve the county and its farmers and working alongside our new NFU county adviser Jeremy Lowe.
“I am also looking forward to seeing greater involvement from members, more issue-led meetings and I hope to go along to as many branch meetings as I possibly can.
“Alan (Warrington) will also be a very strong vice chairman and it is great he has agreed to put himself forward for the role.”
Mr Brookes, who has a 160 strong-herd at Lower Loxley, is the branch chairman of the Uttoxeter and Burton NFU branch as well as having extensive experience in local government through his time on the borough and town council’s.
During the meeting, in the Boden Room, out-going chairman Andrew Collier, of Ingestre, said he was delighted to hand the reins to Mr Brookes and wished him well in his new post.
Mr Collier said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my term as county chairman and I wish David the very best.
“I’m sure he will represent your views well and make sure the county continues to have a strong voice on industry issues.
“He will be a first class chairman, has a good grasp of sector issues and I think he will bring forward a lot of experience to the county.”
