MULL CROFTER Ronnie Campbell has been awarded the annual Stalwart Award by NFU Scotland’s Argyll and the Islands region at its AGM in Tarbert.

NFUS president Andrew McCornick presented the award to Mull regional board member Jim Corbett, who received it on behalf of Mr Campbell who was unable to travel to the event. Mr Corbett said: “Ronnie’s service to fellow members, which stretches to more than quarter of a century, has us looking through the books to see if it is a record.

“Ronnie is delighted and honoured to receive this award and very sorry that he couldn’t be here today to collect it himself. He has always enjoyed his time serving the union and wanted to thank the many wonderful people he has met over many years.”

A worthy winner; for well over 25 years, Mr Campbell has continuously represented Mull and crofters on the union's Crofting Highlands and Islands committee and is a past vice chairman of the group.

The award was created in 2016 in recognition and memory of the dedication shown by Mull’s Bert Leitch and Lachlan MacLean. Both Bert and Lachlan, who represented NFUS’s farmers and crofters both regionally and nationally, sadly passed away in 2015.

The award is presented annually to either a NFUS member who has followed in their footsteps and given their time and effort to the work of the union in Argyll and the Islands region or someone who has made a significant contribution to agriculture in the area.