REPRESENTATIVES of the agricultural industry
have featured in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours which were announced at the
weekend.
Thomas Gilpin, managing director of Gilfresh
Produce, Co Armagh, has been awarded an MBE for his services to the agriculture
industry in Northern Ireland.
Mr Gilpin has grown vegetables all his life.
He started large scale vegetable production in the 1980s producing carrots,
swedes and cabbage for the local wholesale trade. During the late 1980s and
early 1990s Thomas expanded the business and developed the processing and
packing facility mainly in response to the growth of the large retail multiples
across the UK and Ireland.
In the mid 1990s Thomas was joined in the
business by his younger son William. While Thomas is managing director of
Gilfresh Produce he remains very grower focussed. His enthusiasm for vegetable
production and marketing is very apparent.
Mr Gilpin said he was honoured to have
received the award.
“It is a great honour to receive such an
award on behalf of myself, my family and the company but also on behalf of all
the vegetable growers in Northern Ireland.”
Thomas is married to Ruth. They have three
grown up children Andrew (who is getting married on 10th September), William
and Helen.
He is an active member of the UFU Vegetable
Committee and the Horticulture Forum.
A farmer for 40 years, John Alfred Best, from
Newry, Co Down, received an MBE for his services to the agri-food industry in
Northern Ireland.
John is well-known in farming circles,
particularly in his role as chairman of the seeds and cereals committee with
the Ulster Farmers’ Union.
Commenting on the award, John said: “I was
very surprised – pleasantly surprised – and honoured.
“The award is a reflection on all the people
who have worked with me over the years.”
Two Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development officials have received OBE awards.
They are Miss Bridget Josephine Glendinning,
a principal, Single Farm Payments, Londonderry, and Mr Brendan Michael
McCartan, senior principal officer in the Veterinary Service.
Miss Glendinning commented: “I feel truly
honoured to be awarded an OBE. Over the years I have worked in a number of
civil service departments with the past 12 years being in DARD. DARD plays an
important role in growing and supporting the local farming industry and I am
proud to be part of that work.”
She added: “This award is recognition of the
work carried out by people like me who are doing their best to serve the local
community.”
Mr McCartan said he had decided to accept the
award as a recognition for the hard work and achievements of all the staff who
have worked for him.
He joined DARD in 1986 after working overseas
for 13 years including spells in Yemen and Swaziland. Having worked in most
areas of Veterinary Service, Mr McCartan is currently working on procurement of
the new NIFAIS computer system that will replace APHIS.
Mr McCartan said: “I am very surprised,
somewhat embarrassed and very honoured to be awarded the OBE. I have always
worked to the best of my ability, initially overseas and for the last 26 years
with the Department of Agriculture. I gratefully accept this honour on behalf
of all the DARD staff who have worked for me over the years.
“I am particularly proud that staff continued
to provide a full service to the farming and agri-food industries throughout
the Troubles. No matter how bad things got, our staff continued with their work
and delivered a fair and professional service to all. I am pleased to accept
this award on behalf of all these staff.”
A keen cyclist, Brendan is secretary of Phoenix
CC based in Belfast and, along with three others, runs a Bike Aid for Africa
project where they collect old bicycles and fix them up before sending them out
to Africa with various charities.
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