New Year’s Honours for Harper Adams-linked poultry industry figures

New Year’s Honours for two people linked closely with both Harper Adams University and the poultry industry have been covered by the Poultry Network site. 

Christine Middlemiss, the UK’s chief veterinary officer, was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the King’s New Year Honours. 

The Honour was said by DEFRA to mark: “Christine’s crucial role in maintaining the high standard of animal health and welfare in the UK following our departure from the EU, and her significant efforts in managing the largest ever outbreak of avian influenza flu”. 

Ms Middlemiss was appointed a Visiting Professor at Harper Adams in 2019, when she said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to the role of visiting professor of practice at Harper Adams University. 

“The organisation is well recognised for the calibre of graduates it produces in support of the UK agricultural sector. 

“New generations in farming, in veterinary nursing and in the vet profession are of the utmost importance to our future animal health and welfare. I look forward to playing a role in their training.” 

Meanwhile Robin Faccenda was appointed an OBE for his services both to the poultry industry and education. 

Avara Foods cited Mr Faccenda’s links with Harper Adams in a statement welcoming the news, which said: “We are delighted that Robin’s contribution to the poultry sector, his long-standing support for Harper Adams University and the development of the next generation has been recognised in the New Year’s Honours list. 

“When he established Faccenda Foods in the early 1960’s, Robin, and his industry peers, helped transform British diets and established fresh chicken as a healthy, natural and delicious shopping basket staple: an achievement too often overlooked, but deservedly recognised here.” 

Mr Faccenda’s long-running links with Harper Adams began when he graduated from the then Harper Adams College in 1961 and saw him named a Fellow of Harper Adams in 1992 and the University’s Student Services building named the Faccenda Centre when it opened in 2011 after he donated £500,000 to support Harper Adams students two years previously. 

Read the full piece on Poultry Network here.