Moray SNP News

DRUMMUIR FARMER RECOGNISED IN PARLIAMENT

Moray MSP, Richard Lochhead, has given his congratulations to Billy Stewart from Bomakelloch, Drummuir, Keith after he received a Highly Commended Award in the Prince’s Countryside Fund/M&S Award for Contribution to Rural Communities.  The award was presented to Mr Stewart at the Royal Highland Show.

Mr Lochhead tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating Mr Stewart on his award which celebrates producers in the food chain who go that extra mile to help support local rural communities.

Moray’s MSP also commended the Drummuir farmer for his work with the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative (RNCI) which helps children and their teachers develop a greater understanding of farming and working in the countryside.  Mr Stewart has is a former Chairman of the organisation and is currently a director. 

Richard Lochhead MSP said:

“It is fantastic that Billy’s hard work and dedication to agriculture has been recognised by being presented with this award.  This is one of the first awards presented and I am delighted to see that Billy is a recipient.

“I know that Billy has done a huge amount to promote farming life to children and young people and, for a number of years, ran the education tent at Keith Show.  Not only that but he has made a big contribution to giving young people across Grampian a better understanding of what it’s like to work in the country with his work with the RNCI.

“Huge congratulations to Billy for this greatly deserved award.”

The motion reads:

"That the Parliament congratulates Billy Stewart from Drummuir in Moray who was Highly Commended in the first Prince's Countryside Fund/M&S Award for Contribution to Rural Communities, which celebrates producers in the food supply chain who are going the extra mile to help support local rural communities; recognises the work that Billy has done to promote farming to children and young people in Moray and the wider Grampian area through his work with the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative (RNCI); notes that Billy is a current director and a former chairman of the RNCI and continues to contribute to its aim of helping children and their teachers in the north east to develop a greater understanding of farming and the working countryside, and believes that this award is greatly deserved."