Trustees John Atkinson Chairman [email protected] John has spent over 40 years as a commercial farmer, and also has 25 years’ experience of working for the National Trust, in department and project management roles. John currently sits on the Board of the Whitebred Shorthorn Association and The Federation of Cumbrian Commoners, he was also co-opted onto the Board of Trustees of the Dry Stone Walling Association for 10 years. With his partner Maria Benjamin, John farms 450 acres in the Lake District, running rare and native breeds of cattle and sheep. The farm has searched out different markets for its produce and developed new products and income streams to add value. Cate Le Grice-Mack Vice Chair [email protected] Initially a teacher, Cate became founder of Norwood Organic Farm in the 80s, an early pioneer of the new wave of organic farms devoted to producing meat and cereals and breeding native breeds of farm livestock. Cate has been a district councillor and leader. As well as a county councillor, and from 2000 - 2009 a member of the Social, Economic & Environmental Partners (SEEPs) of the South West Regional Assembly, becoming chair in the critical period of the development of Regional Spatial Strategy from 2006-2008. A founder board member of the Countryside Agency, and later chairing the region's Rural Affairs Forum. Involved in third sector work for many years, Cate started with a position as Chair of Trustees of Envolve Partnerships for Sustainability in Bath. She is currently a Board Member of the Cotswolds AONB. Alison Pope, Treasurer (Co-Opted) [email protected] Alison is from a farming family on the West Lancashire coast – dairy farmers with a horse drawn milk-round in the 1930s and 40s as well as farming pigs, hens and turkeys. Alison grew up with early morning starts in the 1970s to feed beef cattle and worked the usual crop cycles growing arable produce. Leaving West Lancashire to study Economics and Accountancy at Leeds University, Alison then qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant in the City of London. She is also a member of the ICSA and the RSA, a Trustee of the Alder Hey Hospital Family House Trust and is Treasurer of her local Royal British Legion Branch. Professor Tim Morris (Co-Opted) [email protected] Professor Tim Morris has extensive experience across veterinary medicine, commerce, professional and voluntary activities, coupled with a longstanding interest and involvement with native breeds of livestock, Tim also keeps Southdown sheep. Tim is a non-executive member on Defra’s Animal Health and Welfare Board for England and has been a Trustee and Chair of several charities over the years, as well as a Director of several companies. James Fanshawe [email protected] James describes himself as ‘an accountant turned farmer’. After a successful career in business as a partner in a large accounting firm, he became a livestock farmer when he and his wife Tina rescued a derelict farm. They started with rare breeds, acquiring their first sheep - Manx Loaghtans in 1985, and their first cattle - Gloucesters in 1986, they still have both breeds. James and Tina also acquired their first Beef Shorthorn cattle at the Rare Breed sale at Stoneleigh in 1996 and have now built this pedigree herd to over 150 cows. Claire Saunders (Co-Opted) [email protected] Claire recently stepped down from a five year term heading up The Prince’s Countryside Fund after joining in 2015. At The Fund, Claire led The Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme, which has assisted 1,000 small family farm businesses to date in adapting to sector change, and developed the Prince’s Countryside Fund’s research and fundraising initiatives, as well as publishing The Village Survival Guide. After Bristol University, Claire began her career in advertising at Saatchi and Saatchi Advertising, returning to her native North Northumberland to head up the Marketing department of Barbour, and following an MBA at Durham, of Hunter Boot in London. Now living in County Antrim with her partner Simon, her Irish Wheaten Terrier - Groovy, and a small herd of Belted Galloways. Tom Davis [email protected] Living in London whilst having no family links didn't deter Tom from pursuing a career in land based management and in due course, becoming a great advocate of rare and native breeds. Tom started volunteering at his local city farm at the young age of 8, where his passion for rare and native breeds has grown ever since. Tom is currently Farm Manager at Mudchute Park and Farm. Ryan Perry [email protected] Professionally, Ryan works as a biomedical scientist in the NHS, specialising in microbiology and has an interest in livestock genetics. He has kept rare breeds for around 20 years, an interest first developed when volunteering for Bill Quay Community Farm in Gateshead. Ryan has served as a Trustee for various charities, including Bill Quay. He is Chairman of the Tamworth Breeders’ Club and breed representative for the British Pig Association, where he has served for three years as a Trustee. Ryan farms Tamworth pigs, Bagot goats and Castlemilk Moorit sheep, recently adding Shetland cattle to his stock. Kate Green [email protected] Kate has worked for Country Life since 2007 and is the Deputy Editor. She has almost certainly written more on RBST and its work than any other individual journalist. She is well connected in media, countryside, equine and agricultural circles. Kate has previously worked for Horse & Hound and was the Editor of Eventing Magazine for 10 years as well as working in the offices of two major horse trials. She is still involved in the sport, has written 10 books and has worked as an equestrian reporter at four Olympic Games. Now living in Berkshire, Kate grew up in the West Country, where she still has strong connections to. She is Vice-Chairman of the British Equestrian Writers Association. Clifford Freeman Clifford’s father was a founder member of RBST, and he continues the family tradition for the support of Gloucester cattle. He was just seven when his father bought him two Gloucester cattle and the breed has been part of his life. Since Clifford took over the her from his father it has grown from 20 to over 250, and he is now able to supply restaurants with meat from 50 steers a year. A firm believer that the future for Gloucesters and other rare breeds is to become commercially viable. Clifford helped grow his family’s primary chicken processing business in Gloucestershire into a multi-million pound undertaking and after selling in 2008, has since turned round St Mary’s Hall Hotel in the Isles of Scilly from a loss making business to one of the islands top rated hotels. Clifford’s experience gives him a rare insight into every stage of the food chain.