The NPA's 20th anniversary celebration in pictures

The NPA celebtated its 20th anniversary with a party at the Warwickshire Golf and Country Club on Tuesday, June 18.

It brought together people who have played key roles in the association's illustrious history – from its conception in the midst of the biggest crisis in the UK pig industry's history through to the present day. 

The NPA's Producer Group met at the venue in the morning. There was plenty to talk about, from pig prices, to the #MuckFreeTruck campaign, pork promotion and the next set of antibiotic targets. Then plenty to celebrate in the afternoon. 

Senior policy advisor Ed Barker, South Central regional PG representative Sally Stockings and the NPA's latest recruit Rebecca Veale. 

NPA vice chairman Rob Mutimer, former chairman and executive director Stewart Houston and Eastern regional representative Steve Hart share a joke. They probably weren't discussing pig prices.

Pig World publisher Simon Lewis and former AHDB strategy director Mick Sloyan in deep discussion. 

 

Devon farmer and South West PG member Andrew Freemantle arrived the previous night to start cooking a hog roast. The only way to celebrate 20 years of the NPA! 

It provided, as NPA chairman Richard Lister said when he thanked Andrew, a 'fantastic lunch' enjoyed by all. There wasn't much left. 

Richard Lister thanked the guests and many others not in attendance 'for all your hard work and contributions to the association over the past 20 years'.

Your industry needs you! The honour was given to Stewart Houston - who else - to give an account of how the NPA was born in 1999 'out of a desparation to see the industry speak with one voice' at the industry's lowest point and how it has gone from strength to strength over the years.

They were listening on every word.  

Guests received a copy of Digby's brilliant new book, described by Richard Lister as a 'blockbuster charting the NPA's 20-year journey, the up and downs, the tears of joy and despair'.

The event ran like clockwork, brilliantly organised by NPA office manager Andrea Vickers. Richard thanked Andrea for her sterling efforts during his speech.  

Richard also gave a special thank you to chief executive Zoe Davies, not just for her role in organising the event but for the leadership she has given to the organisation and the industry over more than a decade with NPA. She received a special hardback version of Digby's anniversary book. 

It included a special dedication... 

"For the first time in my life I was speechless," said Hugh Crabtree, after he became only the fourth person to be awarded a Lifetime Fellowship of the NPA. 

Richard Longthorp soon became the fifth. "Richard in many ways represents the true embodiment of the value of the NPA – the selfless attitude to work for the industry," Richard Lister said as he presented the award. 

"Leadership other organisations would die for," Stewart observed in his speech. 

HERE'S TO THE NEXT 20! AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS PLAYED THEIR PART OVER THE YEARS.