Nick, originally from Norwich, Norfolk, served as the Senior Group Secretary of Carlisle NFU for nearly four decades.
Farming was Nick’s passion from a young age – he spent his weekends and school holidays working on a local mixed farm. He first worked in accountancy but soon decided to apply for farming-related jobs in East Anglia.
Nick began his NFU career at the Norwich office in 1969, where he sold advertising for the County Journal.
Two years later, Nick was encouraged to apply for the position of Assistant Secretary at Cockermouth. Nick was successful and moved north to Cumbria.
Aged 22, Nick was appointed to the Senior NFU Secretary position at Carlisle and Wigton and he developed a team of group secretaries and office colleagues who had the one aim of serving and representing their members.
Highly respected and well known nationally
Up until his retirement in 2009, Nick led his team and his members through difficult times, including the BSE crisis, the introduction of milk quotas and the foot-and-mouth epidemic in 2001. During the outbreak Nick represented his members at many meetings and was interviewed on numerous occasions by the media. Nick was highly respected and well known nationally at the NFU.
Nick became involved in many farming-related community organisations. As well as being a council member of the Cumberland Show since moving to Carlisle, and becoming chairman of the organising committee, he was the secretary of Dalston Show from 1979 to 2022. Over the years, he chaired the Dick Harrison Trust, the Farmers Charity Auctions and Life Education Cumbria. He was also secretary of The Cumbria Society for 20 years and secretary of the Blamire Memorial Trust. He was also past president of the Rotary Club of Carlisle and Cumbria YFC.
Nick was recognised for his contributions to these organisations and was awarded the Fellowship of Royal Agricultural Societies and the Paul Harris Fellowship from The Rotary Club.
In 2000, Nick received an MBE for his services to farming and the community, from her Majesty the Queen at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace.
A trusted figure in our agricultural community
Graham Holliday, NFU Carlisle Group Secretary, said: “Nick became a trusted figure in our agricultural community. His tenure from 1972 until his retirement at the end of 2009 was marked by steadfast commitment to members, colleagues and the rural sector through both calm and crisis. Nick guided his members through some of farming’s most challenging chapters. His calm leadership and genuine care made him a source of strength and reassurance when it was needed most.
“Nick was awarded an MBE for services to agriculture and the community – a reflection of his tireless work, his integrity, and the esteem in which he was held by all who knew him.”
Ian Mandle, NFU Carlisle Senior Group Secretary, said: “I had the great pleasure of working alongside Nick for many years, benefiting from his guidance and support. We worked through some of the most challenging times faced by the industry and while these were the big events that everyone remembers, there was so much more.
“Under Nick’s leadership, the office at Rosehill would provide a great deal of support to NFU members, more often than not being the first point of contact when things were going wrong. Nick had the ability to understand problems very quickly but more importantly was able to bring people to the table to find the right solutions. On a personal note, I will remember Nick as a friend and a fantastic work colleague who helped me develop the skills and knowledge required to take over his role here in Carlisle.”