At the recent Suffolk Sheep Society Annual General Meeting, Pat Machray was appointed as 2024 Society President and the outgoing president Alastair Barkley gave a short address to thank Council and wish Pat all the best for the next year.
“I was both honoured and delighted to be appointed as President of the Suffolk Sheep Society at the recent AGM. It is a privilege to follow on from Alastair Barkley and all those before him.
Alastair did a tremendous job as president of the society particularly around the youth agenda and I hope to be able to support that further this year in my role with the “Next Gen” committee who are already coming up with great ideas for the future.
It has been a tough lambing in 2024 for some of our members particularly with schmallenberg and blue tongue and I can only hope that despite everything the resilience of the farming community will ensure we move forward however carefully to overcome the difficulties the impact of these two dreadful diseases have had on the flocks affected.
I will work alongside Jane Soulsby as chair of council, council itself and Barrie as CEO and the office team to do whatever I can to help the society in its quest to continue to be a leading breed society well into the future.
I look forward to seeing many of you as the year progresses whether at shows or sales and wish you all a successful season ahead.”
Pat Machray OBE, Middlemuir Flock
Joe Stewart awarded Alastair Barkley with a certificate and thanked him for his input during his term as President.
