Farming stalwarts who have given decades of service to the industry were recognised at a special ceremony at the Suffolk Show. Among the recipients were a delighted Metfield pig farmer Peter Mortimer who notches up 60 years of work in the sector this year. Also marking a huge work milestone were self-employed farmer Leslie Carr, of Mace Green Farm, Copdock, near Ipswich, and farm employee David Eady of Shimpling Park Farms near Bury St Edmunds - both of whom have also passed the 60-year milestone.
Peter - who was presented with a special award for outstanding services to agriculture in Suffolk - will be 77 later this year and remains an active pig farmer. He showed pigs for 50 years at the Suffolk Show from 1970 to 2019 and also sat on the Suffolk Agricultural Association council for a few years. He was "honoured" to receive the accolade, he said.
Leslie - who rents 110 acres of land which he still farms - wouldn't give his age but said he started out driving horses and tractors at the age of five or six before he went to school in Bures. The family later moved to Copdock. He was "very pleased" to receive the honour - which was presented by show president Bishop Martin Seeley.
David, 75, said he started work for John Pawsey's grandfather, David Alston, at the age of 15. He spent two winters at Chadacre College and remained with the same family throughout his working life. "I have enjoyed it very much but the first 30 were the better years.
There was a lot more about and there.
