Meat South West Board Members
| Robert Bowditch | Nick Green |
| John Hoskin | Julie Edwards |
| Mark Thomas | Richard Phelps |
| Peter Baber | Andrew Jackson |
| Robert Venner | Clinton Bonner |
Robert Bowditch is a dairy mixed farmer from west Dorset. Robert was a past National Farmers Union chairman for Dorset and past regional livestock chairman in the South West. Robert was one of the founder members of Meat South West and has been Vice chair and now Chairman for Meat South West as well as company Director.
Nick Green is the Farm Operations Director for Alvis Brothers near Bristol, a large family business. Nick is also the South West representative for the National Pig Association and is highly respected within the pig industry. Nick is Vice Chairman of Meat South West.
John Hoskin is a beef, arable and sheep farmer from Dorchester in Dorset. John is an EBLEX board member. John has also been a past National Farmers Union chairman for Dorset.
Julie Edwards is the NFU Regional Policy Adviser for the South West region, responsible for Livestock, Poultry, Single Payment Scheme and Regulatory issues. Julie has worked for the NFU for two and half years. Prior to this she worked for a major retailer as an Agricultural Manager and has worked for the University of Bristol’s Division of Food Animal Science, researching pre and post slaughter handling of animals and the effects on meat quality. Julie’s parents have a mixed farm and Julie also farms a small number of beef animals.
Mark Thomas farms near Launceston the family beef and sheep farm. Mark is also the South West National Beef Association Chairman. Mark is also involved with Jaspers at Treburley.
Richard Phelps is the Managing Director of Southern Counties Fresh Foods based in Langport, Somerset who are the largest beef slaughterers in England. The company has a producers club with over 3,500 farmers and approximately 80% of the producers are in the South West region. Richard is also responsible for the development of Blade Farming Southwest which is the UK’s first integrated beef operation and is responsible for the purchasing, rearing and finishing of more than 10,000 head of cattle this year. Blade developed the “So Good West Country Beef” brand with Somerfied stores that offers a selected group of SW farmers a cost-plus mechanism for rearing beef. In 2005 Blade SW purchased the Mole Livestock Initiative from Mole Valley Farmers to further integrate the beef supply chain. Blade has more recently developed an alliance with the South Devon breed to increase the number of South Devon cattle for the retail trade. Richard is also the Agriculture Director of The Hilton Food Group, which is an international retail packing beef and lamb business operating in England, Ireland, Sweden, Holland and Poland for European retailers. In his spare time he relaxes with his two young children Harry and Finlay and is married to Sarah.
Peter Baber is a commercial sheep farmer with a keen interest in pedigree breeding. He farms in Devon, keeping 700 ewes, all fully performance recorded (including Suffolks, Texels, Frieslands and Easy Care ewes). Peter is a member of both Suffolk and Texel Sire Reference schemes. Peter is past chair of NSA. Chair of SCOPS, SAMB and the Sheep Health and Welfare Committee. He is also a member of Genesis Faraday Steering group and SAC Consultative Committee. Formally Peter was a Dairy Cattle specialist advisor with ADAS, advising on breeding and general management of dairy cows. Peter has a BSc in Agriculture from Reading University and an MSc from Newcastle University researching into effects of breed and management on profitability of beef production systems and commercial value of beef carcasses using bull calves from the dairy herd. Peter spent three years on a world study tour including New Zealand, Australia, and parts of South America and South East Asia.
Andrew Jackson is CEO for Mole Valley Farmers. Andrew began his agricultural career joining a leading animal feed company and later joined a leading international pharmaceutical company in a marketing position. In 1996 Andrew joined a Southwest company as Director of commercial operations and in 1999 was recruited by Mole Valley Farmers as CEO. Andrew has other interests including main board positions in Global Range, United Farmers and directorship responsibilities in some other subsidiary businesses. Andrew is involved with Investors in people and sits on the recognition panel for Southwest England, and currently is Vice president of the local chamber of commerce. In addition, Andrew is a mixed beef and Sheep farmer in North Devon.
Robert Venner represents the Livestock Auctioneers Association and is auctioneer for Taunton Market.
Clinton Bonner is a second generation butcher in Illminster, with a butchers shop and delicatessen on the High Street. Clinton is a member of the Q-Guild of butchers and was past president of the South West branch of the Federation of Master Butchers. Clinton sources beef, lamb and pork from named Somerset Farmers. Bonner the butchers are within the quality mark scheme and Q-Guild.