Charles Goadby won the NFU’s Meurig Raymond Award in recognition of his hard work and commitment.
Named after the NFU’s former President, the award celebrates exceptional service to the NFU and wider farming sector.
Charles, who farms near Nuneaton, was selected from nominees representing each of the NFU’s four English regions and NFU Cymru.
A busy year
Over the past year, Charles has become a leading voice on the family farm tax, working to ensure the serious implications for family farms were clearly understood at the heart of local and national government.
He helped organise major gatherings outside Warwickshire County Council and was subsequently invited to address the councillors ahead of a motion of no confidence on the reforms. That discussion led to the leader of the council writing directly to the Treasury and the Chancellor to set out the county’s concerns.
Charles has also worked closely with his local MP, Jodie Gosling, through on-farm meetings, constituency walks and practical demonstrations of the real-world impact of the family farm tax.
“What has particularly stood out is his ability to break down complex topics in ways that resonate.”
NFU Director General Terry Jones
His work has brought together different farmer groups, ensuring that NFU positions were better understood and that the wider farming community presented a more united voice.
Standing up for what he believes in
Charles Goadby said: “I’m flabbergasted. To be recognised for standing up for something I believe in so strongly is incredibly humbling.
“The thought that you can actually win an award for doing something that so many farmers and growers do day in and day out – and for something that you love doing - is mind boggling.”
(L-R) Meurig Raymond, award winner Charles Goadby and NFU Regional Director Robert Newbery. Photograph: Exposure Photography.
Breaking down complex topics
NFU Director General Terry Jones said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Charles has won this year’s Meurig Raymond Award after being nominated alongside four other fantastic members from across England and Wales.
“What has particularly stood out is his ability to break down complex topics in ways that resonate – including a memorable Lego-based explanation of potential APR and BPR losses which made an often-impenetrable topic accessible to a wider audience and helped bring new supporters into the conversation.
“Charles has made an outstanding contribution to raising the profile of British farmers and the vital work they do, making a demonstrable difference to the political understanding of key agricultural issues and making him a very worthy winner of this year’s award.”
Regional nominees
Charles Goadby was selected from five nominees drawn from each of the NFU’s four English regions and NFU Cymru.
The other nominees were:
- North – Yorkshire livestock farmer and NFU Livestock Board member Andrew Loftus.
- South – Cornwall mixed farmer and NFU Dorset Council Delegate Wakely Cox.
- East – Kent livestock farmer and NFU East Livestock Board Vice-chair Hugh Richards.
- Wales – Powys livestock farmer and NFU Cymru Rural Affairs Board member Hedd Pugh.
