There have been many distinguished pig industry scholars before him... but he is the first to be chosen for the new award sponsored by BPEX and Merial exclusively for the pig sector.

And the icing on the cake for the industry is that whilst BPEX and Merial are sponsoring just the one annual pig sector award, among the other scholarships awarded by Nuffield judges was another piggy person — west country producer Andrew Freemantle.

Industry training chief Richard Longthorp — the man behind the new annual BPEX/Merial pig industry Nufffield Scholarship — is delighted.

“This is one two-for-one offer that I do support,“ he said today. “I offer my warmest congratulations to Richard Hooper and Andrew Freemantle. We all look forward to helping ensure you get the absolute maximum out of your opportunities and we look forward to the results of your studies.“

The original thought behind the BPEX/Merial award was that the industry should promote an award that was similar Nuffield but without the age limit of 45.

“However, once I had spoken with Nuffield I was more than convinced that the Nuffield organisation and support network was worth far more than my anti-ageist principles,“ said Richard Longthorp.

“Having now experienced first hand the Nuffield organisation, through being involved in the interviews, I am convinced we were right to go with Nuffield and to stick with the maximum age of 45.

“For, having sat through five interviews and participated directly in three, I have to say the sheer enthusiasm and fresh thinking of all candidates left me and fellow piggy judge Jake Waddilove reflecting that it was probably one of the most rewarding and uplifting afternoons either of us had ever spent in London.“