Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    • August 2025
    • 2025 Poultry Health supplement
    • July 2025
    • 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    • October 2023
    • Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    • September 2023
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
  • FREE Email Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
Twitter LinkedIn
Podcast
Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    1. August 2025
    2. 2025 Poultry Health supplement
    3. July 2025
    4. 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    5. June 2025
    6. 2025 Innovation supplement
    7. May 2025
    8. April 2025
    9. March 2025
    10. 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    11. February 2025
    12. January 2025
    13. December 2024
    14. November 2024
    15. October 2024
    16. September 2024
    17. 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    18. August 2024
    19. 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    20. July 2024
    21. 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    22. June 2024
    23. 2024 Innovation supplement
    24. Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    25. May 2024
    26. April 2024
    27. March 2024
    28. February 2024
    29. January 2024
    30. December 2023
    31. November 2023
    32. Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    33. October 2023
    34. Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    35. September 2023
    Featured

    Poultry Business – August 2025 issue out now

    By Chloe RyanAugust 13, 2025
    Recent

    Poultry Business – August 2025 issue out now

    August 13, 2025

    2025 Poultry Health supplement out now

    August 13, 2025

    Poultry Business – July 2025 issue

    July 1, 2025
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
Poultry News
News

NFU pays tribute to former President Sir Simon Gourlay

Chloe RyanBy Chloe RyanAugust 2, 20192 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

Former NFU President Sir Simon Gourlay, a passionate moderniser whose reforms changed the way the organisation operated for the better, has died at the age of 85.

Sir Simon, President of the NFU from 1986 to 1991, farmed on the English/Welsh border, first as a beef farmer before turning his hand to dairying and later free-range egg production.

The former army officer was first elected to office as NFU Vice President in 1982, then Deputy President in 1984 and became NFU President when Sir Richard Butler stood down in 1986.

Paying tribute to Sir Simon Gourlay, current NFU President Minette Batters said today: “I send my deepest condolences to Sir Simon’s wife, Lady Caroline, and his three sons, Justin, David and Alistair.

“During his term in office, Sir Simon had to deal with a number of serious issues and dealt with all of these calmly and effectively.

“But he’ll be remembered most as being a great reformist and moderniser. He came into office determined to leave the NFU in a better condition than he found it – a lasting legacy of his five-year presidency.

“Sir Simon was behind a major re-structuring of the organisation – replacing the old NFU county system with a new, streamlined regional set up. He was also instrumental in creating the NFU’s popular countryside membership category.

“Farmers and growers of England and Wales owe Sir Simon Gourlay a huge debt of gratitude for the unwavering commitment that he showed as one of their most effective leaders.”

Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Previous ArticleGressingham to relocate game production
Next Article Northern Ireland civic society calls for a no deal Brexit to be prevented
Chloe Ryan

Editor of Poultry Business, Chloe has spent the past decade writing about the food industry from farming, through manufacturing, retail and foodservice. When not working, dog walking and reading biographies are her favourite hobbies.

Read Similar Stories

News

Four men imprisoned for diverting chicken not fit for human consumption back into food chain  

August 28, 20253 Mins Read
News

Last call for entries: Young Poultry Person of the Year award – deadline 1 September

August 20, 20252 Mins Read
News

Call for change for UK’s ‘antiquated’ meat inspections

August 11, 20253 Mins Read
Latest News

Poultry numbers grow in England, driven by broilers

August 29, 2025

Four men imprisoned for diverting chicken not fit for human consumption back into food chain  

August 28, 2025

New ad campaign for Red Tractor

August 28, 2025
Sponsored Content

Precision Nutrition: A global approach to reducing broiler feed cost.

August 1, 2025

Navigating Sustainability in Egg Production: Practical Steps for Producers

June 1, 2025
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions

  • Farmers Weekly
  • AA Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • Pig World

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.