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(l-r) Newly elected life member of the FUW Gareth Vaughan with FUW president Glyn Roberts.[/caption]
Former Farmers’ Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan has been elected a life member of the union in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the union and Welsh agriculture over many years.
Mr Vaughan – who stood down in 2011 after eight years as FUW president – has previously received the union’s annual internal award for his services to the agricultural industry during the organisation’s annual general meeting in Aberystwyth.
He was elected North Wales member of the FUW’s national finance and organisation committee in 1998 before being elected vice president in 2000, deputy president in June 2002 and president in June 2003.
His term in office had seen two outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, a devastating rise in bovine tuberculosis and a slump in farm incomes.
Announcing Mr Vaughan’s election at a meeting of the union’s grand council, FUW president Glyn Roberts said: “Gareth has been a towering presence within the FUW and has represented us with great dignity and forcefulness during private meetings with Government Ministers and officials and at public engagements throughout Wales during his time in office.”
The recommendation that he be made a life member was accepted unanimously by the union’s grand council.
“He is a true champion of farming and a true champion of the FUW,” added Mr Roberts.
Mr Vaughan runs a traditional beef and sheep unit at Cwmyrhiwdre Farm, Dolfor, near Newtown, in partnership with his wife of over 40 years, Audrey and his daughter Catherine and son-in-law Brian.
Born in Llanidloes in 1941, Mr Vaughan attended Manledd Primary and Llanidloes High Schools. He was chairman of the union’s Newtown branch in 1988-89, Montgomeryshire county chairman from 1991-93 and has also represented the county on the union’s grand council and land use and parliamentary committee, the British Wool Marketing Board, the Meat and Livestock Commission liaison committee and the Agricultural Dwellinghouse Committee.
Mr Vaughan was awarded the MBE in the 2011 New Year Honours List for services to agriculture and stated he was proud to accept the honour on behalf of all staff within the union who carry out such dedicated work.
Responding to the appointment, Mr Vaughan said: “I am very grateful for this acknowledgment and I consider it a great honour and privilege to be joining such an elite group.”