A FORMER award-winning correspondent for The SF, Robert Forster, has become the first journalist to be awarded the Royal Smithfield Club’s coveted Bicentenary Trophy for those who have given outstanding service to the meat industry in the UK.

Northumbrian Mr Forster was recently presented with the award by Julian Hopwood, a past chairman of the RSC. When he stopped contributing to our Trends and Gleaner columns in 1998, he began work for the fledgling National Beef Association.

He told The SF: "I began work as an agricultural journalist in 1980 and apart from the NBA, it has been my career. So I am pleased my endeavours and by implication the endeavours of fellow agricultural journalists, have been recognised.

"Previous winners include a number of prominent Scots, to include Allan Stevenson, Ian Galloway, Basil Lowman and Geoff Sim, as well as the Prince of Wales, so I am in good company."