Born and bred on the family farm in Byley, Antony started work for the NFU back in 1986.
He has always worked for the Mid-Cheshire branch of the NFU, covering Stretton, Middlewich and Winsford, and Northwich.
“I didn’t go to university and opted to work for the Department of Health and Social Security after finishing my A levels,” explained Antony.
“When I was 21 in the early eighties the role of Mid-Cheshire group secretary became available and I applied for the position. Unfortunately, on that occasion I was unsuccessful and had to wait until 1986 when the opportunity came around for a second time.
“Respected local farmer, Royal Cheshire Show's John Platt sponsored my second application and I believe he was influential in persuading the 15-man strong interview panel to take me on.
“I remember one member of the interview panel asking me if I regarded the job as a stepping stone to something else, having only spent five years at the Department of Health and Social Security. I told him that farming is in my blood and that I’d be in it for the long haul. After 36 years I think I’ve been good to my word."
When he joined it was only himself, Ian Gough and their secretary Christine Twigg running the office. Now Mid-Cheshire has three NFU agents and eight other members of staff.
Antony, 61, said: “Office manager Christine Twigg has been a constant and positive part of my career. For the entire 36 years she has been my right-hand person. Someone I could truly rely upon and trust.
“Throughout my career I have never thought of myself as being a salesperson. The NFU gave me the opportunity to be an adviser to my farming clients. An old friend once told me that if you look after them farmers, they in turn will look after you. He was right about that.”
Antony has been married to wife Alison for 36 years and the pair have two sons and a granddaughter. He loves golf and in May was given the honour of being Captain of Sandiway Golf Club for 12 months. He is also a keen ballroom dancer.
When Antony leaves, Caroline Wynn will take over as the senior group secretary and will be assisted by Peter Offer and new appointment Jack Williams.
Jack Williams
Meet Jack Williams
Jack Williams is Mid-Cheshire’s newest group secretary and will be a familiar face for many in the Cheshire farming community, having grown up around Stockley Farm Park in Arley, a business his grandad and uncles successfully ran as an open farm for 30 years.
A Knutsford YFC member since the age of 14, Jack, now 28 years old, cannot wait to officially start his new role. He studied A levels at Sir John Deane's Sixth Form College and once finished, went to Reaseheath College to study countryside management.
He was then offered an apprenticeship at NFU Mid-Cheshire as a customer service adviser, working his way up to the sales team. At the end of 2020, Jack relocated to the NFU Pocklington office where he spent 18 valuable months experiencing farming in a different part of the country.