Andrew Brown has a mixed 250Ha farm in the south of Rutland with 60% arable and 40% permanent pasture, 200 breeding sheep and 100 beef cattle.
It has been another exciting few weeks in the life of a regional board chairman.
It started when I was asked to put myself forward to the selection process for the Windsor Leadership Trust. I filled in the application form and was called for interview. I was then informed that I had been successful and was one of four people from agriculture who would take part in one of the next two programmes to be held at Windsor Castle. The second of these clashed with the NFU AGM so I opted to go on the one at the end of November.
I was lucky enough to be invited to a reception at Windsor by Her Majesty the Queen last year, but to actually stay in the grounds of the castle for a week was something I never even dreamed of.
On arrival I picked up my security pass and went off to find the accommodation. After settling in, the 24 participants were soon interacting and getting to know each other. I was rather daunted at first by the quality and calibre of the others as there were three high-ranking military men, two high-ranking police officers, various other CEOs and MDs of high profile companies and the Arch Bishop of Canterbury’s special advisor on foreign affairs.
To mix with such high flyers from so many different industries was a unique experience and hearing their insights into different styles of leadership was fascinating. We can all learn from others and I think others can learn from agriculture.
One of the highlights for me was being able to go into St George’s Chapel for evensong. This historic place of worship is the final resting place for many of our kings and queens and to be able to sit where the Knights of the Garter sit near to the high alter was truly awesome.
There were also many lighter moments, one of which was when the eminent Prof of Leadership, Keith Grint, asked each person what the most pressing dilemma currently facing them was. As each person said things such as the acquisition of another company or the multi-million pound merger deal they were closing I had to think quickly and blurted out that my main issue currently was getting my sheep pregnant. This precipitated large amounts of laughter and it was apparently the first time they had ever seen Prof Grint stumped for words.
On an early morning stroll I was also reprimanded by the police for being in the private part of the castle and was told in forceful terms to go back to where I belonged.
Having been away, I hadn’t seen my mate Des from the village lately and when I did finally catch up I found he has gone into retail and marketing. But when I found out what he has decided to market I was a little unsure as to the way he was going about it. Apparently he is now selling a new cure for the common cold called Far Cough, designed to send your cough far away, and a new range of dog shampoo called Beau Locks using the strap line “this really is the Dogs Beau Locks”. I rest my case.
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