Pig producer, businessman and both National Pig Association (NPA) and British Pig Executive (BPEX) Chairman, Stewart Houston has been awarded a CBE for services to the pig industry.

Stewart, who farms with his family in North Yorkshire, has held a range of positions within the industry over many years. He is credited with changing industry attitudes in the late 1990s when he, and a group of like minded pig producers, started the pressure group, the British Pig Industry Support Group. At that time the pig industry was facing a particularly difficult time and BPISG actions brought their struggle to public attention and eventually forced changes to retailer attitudes, consumer perceptions and government understanding.

Stewart is currently a commissioner of the Meat and Livestock Commission and a member of the new Levy Board UK .

He says he is delighted to receive this award, but says firmly it is not just for him.

“I have had the good fortune to be involved with an industry that has worked in extraordinary unison. This is a recognition of the efforts of an industry which has hauled itself back from the brink. No-one could have worked with a more resilient bunch of people who hit every obstacle head on," he added.

Much deserved

Industry stalwart Frances Slade, a founder member and former Chairman of LIPs - Ladies In Pigs - has received an MBE.

Her service to the pig industry is legendary and BPEX Chairman Stewart Houston said her honour was 'very well-deserved and true a recognition of her devotion'.

During her leadership of LIPS set up cooking and meat demonstrations using their own resources and sponsorship from the British Pig Executive to promote British pork. It's work is in now an integral part of BPEX promotions for the Quality Standard Mark for pork, bacon and ham.

Frances, who lives at Hook Norton in Oxfordshire, has worked tirelessly for the pig industry for many years. Formerly a pig breeder, producing pedigree Welsh pigs with husband Richard, Frances won the pig industry's prestigious David Black Award in 1999.

She said her MBE was very unexpected. "I am very proud and honoured. Much of it is due to the efforts of people I have worked with over the years including LIPs and wider industry. I couldn't have done it without the tremendous support of my family, particularly Richard," she said.

Former Chairman of the British Pig Executive Richard Campbell JP has received an OBE.

Mr Campbell, who now lives in Dorset, has been a commissioner of the Meat and Livestock Commission and until recently chairman of Assured British Pigs. He is also the chairman of a farmers co-operative and a former chairman of the NFU pigs committee.

BPEX chief Executive Mick Sloyan said the award was well-deserved recognition of many years hard work on behalf of the British pig industry. "Richard was a leading light in the establishment of BPEX which has proved to be a model which will be taken forward in the new levy board structure," he added.