UNRIVALLED LEADERSHIP

Dairy industry stalwart from West Sussex wins M&S lifetime achievement award.

Former Sussex dairy farmer Tim Lock said he was “honoured and flattered” to have been awarded the M&S lifetime achievement award at this year's Select Farm Awards.

Tim, who became chair of the M&S Milk Pool in 2016, stepped down this year after seven years representing fellow milk producers in an important retailer/producer/ customer partnership.

Judges were impressed by his leadership during the period of nationwide uncertainty caused by the pandemic, with Steve McLean, M&S head of agriculture and fisheries pointing out: “Over what has been an unprecedented time of volatility and market instability, Tim’s unrivalled leadership and knowledge have been a constant for both producers and M&S.”

Tim followed in the footsteps of his late father Michael in managing 1,800 acres of arable land, beef and dairy in West Sussex, taken on by his father in the 1950s. Tim stopped dairying when the farm was sold by the landlord but continues to represent the interests of dairy producers in his new role as dairy sector chair of the Red Tractor Board.

“I was honoured and flattered to be rewarded for something I really enjoyed hugely,” he told South East Farmer.

He said it had been a pleasure working with fellow farmers and with colleagues in M&S. “the milk pool is a great example of how supply chain partners can work collaboratively in an honest, open and fair way,” he commented.