SHEEP CONSULTANT, Lesley Stubbings, has been presented with the National Sheep Association's George Hedley Memorial Award at the biennial Sheep Breeders Round Table conference.

For approaching 40 years, Lesley has been a leading figure in the UK sheep sector, gaining a UK-wide reputation for her outstanding knowledge and expertise in all aspects of the industry and particularly sheep nutrition and parasite control. On winning the award, she joins many reputable faces honoured for their contribution to the UK sheep industry.

NSA has presented the George Hedley Memorial Award annually since 1960, to honour the memory of George Hedley, a highly respected farmer from the Scottish Borders who was involved with the NSA (then the National Sheep Breeders Association) for many years. It was while he was NSBA chairman, travelling to a council meeting in London in January 1960, that he was tragically killed in a car accident.

Speaking at the SBRT ceremony, NSA chief executive Phil Stocker talked of the 'immeasurable value' of the service Lesley had given to the UK sheep industry, particularly when considering her role in the formation and development of the SCOPS group. He said: “I am sure all in attendance at Saturday evening’s meal that followed an interesting day of conference would be in agreement of how very deserving Lesley is of this award. Thanks to Lesley, I believe UK sheep farmers are currently far more aware of the challenges they face due to anthelmintic resistance and are taking steps to counteract this and improve the health and welfare status of their livestock. This alone is an achievement worth recognising, not to mention the vast amount of work throughout the sector that Lesley has been responsible for.”

On graduating from Nottingham University with a degree in animal production in 1979, Lesley joined ADAS and quickly worked her up to become Principal Sheep Consultant. She became an independent sheep consultant in 1997, developing a wide client base within the industry, advising farmers, Defra, organisations such as NSA and many more. In addition, she is a life member of the Sheep Veterinary Society and the leading figure in the SCOPS industry group, which is a world leader in integrated parasite control in sheep.

On receiving the award Lesley said: “To be recognised by my peers in the sheep industry in this way is a great honour. I have been very fortunate to have worked in such a vibrant sector over my career. In accepting this award I want to acknowledge the efforts of many people who have supported and encouraged me over the years and I hope to be able to continue to support the next generation of sheep advisers as we move into a new phase for our industry."

NSA chairman Bryan Griffiths added: “I was thrilled Lesley Stubbings was chosen as the recipient of the NSA George Hedley Memorial Award, in recognition of the dedication she has already given to the sheep industry and the role she will no doubt continue to play in the future. Anyone who has ever worked with Lesley cannot have failed to be impressed by her knowledge and enthusiasm for sheep farming, and we enjoy a particularly close working relationship with her at NSA. I believe this award to be very well deserved – congratulations to her.”