Often referred to simply as "the Netherthorpe", the Guild's Communicator of the Year Award is our highest and most prestigious accolade.
The Netherthorpe's perpetual "crowing cockerel" trophy – displayed at The Farmers Club – is presented annually to the Guild Member who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to agricultural communications.
It is judged from nominations made by Members who identify someone who has contributed to the dissemination of knowledge and understanding about agriculture, in its widest sense, over a number of years.
This can have been by the written word or through editing, by production or presentation on radio and television. It is open to press and public relations members of the Guild, as well as journalists, editors and photographers.
Latest Netherthorpe Award News
Alan Stennett receives 2017 Netherthorpe Award
Lincolnshire broadcaster and author Alan Stennett received the 2017 Netherthorpe Communicator of the Year Award for his outstanding and sustained contribution to agricultural journalism. The highest accolade awarded by the British Guild of…
Peter Hollinshead receives 2016 Netherthorpe Award
Peter Hollinshead, the winner of the Guild's Netherthorpe Award in 2016, has spent most of his working life as an agricultural journalist. During that time, he has earned a reputation as a skilled and tenacious operator with an incisive line of…
Dei Tomos receives 2015 Netherthorpe Award
The 2015 recipient of the Netherthorpe Award has been the voice of farming news in Wales for more than 30 years. Dei Tomos is an acclaimed broadcaster and journalist, who has never lost his zest for rooting out the ‘real’ story behind the spin. He…
Steve Mitchell receives 2014 Netherthorpe Award
The 2014 recipient of the Netherthorpe Award trophy is Steve Mitchell, PR practitioner and former staff journalist, and of particular relevance to this accolade, the long-time organiser of the Guild's John Deere Training Award and its intensive…
Ken Fletcher receives 2013 Netherthorpe Award
The 2013 winner of the Guild's Netherthorpe Award, Ken Fletcher, deputy and technical editor of The Scottish Farmer, is described by Guild chairman Jane Craigie as a warm and charismatic agricultural journalist and an ambassador for farming. He…
David Cousins and Andrew Arbuckle win 2012 Netherthorpe
The most prestigious award made by the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists was presented jointly to two stalwarts of the industry – Andrew Arbuckle, rural editor on The Scotsman; and David Cousins, machinery editor of Farmers Weekly. Andrew…
Howard Walsh wins 2011 Netherthorpe Award
Howard Walsh, Farmers Guardian business and former machinery editor, is this year’s recipient of the Guild’s most prestigious award, The Netherthorpe, which celebrates the achievements of members in making an outstanding and sustained contribution…
Ross Muir wins 2010 Netherthorpe Award
The Guild’s Netherthorpe Communicator of the Year award for 2010 was presented press and PR consultant Ross Muir, who said: “I am honoured and privileged to receive this award after more than forty years in the agri-communications business.”…
Ken Rundle wins 2009 Netherthorpe Award
The Guild’s 2009 Netherthorpe Award, for consistent excellence in agricultural communications, was presented at the Royal Show awards party to Guild member Ken Rundle, who earlier is the year gained similar recognition by way of the inaugural…
Bill Howatson receives 2008 Netherthorpe Award
Scottish freelance journalist Bill Howatson won the 2008 Netherthorpe Award in recognition of his near 30-year record communicating to farming and lay audiences through a number of Scottish newspapers. Bill was chosen from six nominations made by…
