Added: 24/05/2008

Category: Suffolk County Council

Suffolk National Farmers Union (NFU) county Chairman, John Collen, will introduce a display on the role and achievements of the Union over the last 100 years on Wednesday 28th May at 3.30pm in the Suffolk County Council tent. John will be accompanied by the NFU's National President, Peter Kendall.

NFU Suffolk county chairman John Collen said: "I'm delighted that Suffolk Record Office has chosen to mark the NFU centenary with this display.

"It provides a fascinating insight into the changes and challenges Suffolk farming has faced over the last century and highlights the key role Suffolk farmers have played in so many different areas."

The display highlights some of the vital cooperation between the NFU and the county council and its predecessors. A panel illustrates how the NFU and farmers from Suffolk played a leading role in the campaign to abolish tithe payments. The success of the NFU's Sugar Beet Committee in ensuring that Suffolk farmers had a voice in the setting up of the Sugar Beet industry in the county is described. There are fascinating insights into the daily preoccupations of farm workers in the Second World War: Hitler's occupation of France and the sale of a calf getting equal prominence.

On the first evening of the show, Wednesday, the NFU is bringing together past and present officeholders and staff from Suffolk for a centenary celebration inside its marquee. John Collen will also be hosting a centenary local produce lunch for invited guests at Trinity Park on Friday 20 June.

More information on the NFU's centenary is available on a specially-designed website, www.nfu100.com