First Duchy of Lancaster scholar selected

Posted 8 December 2014

Andrew Gregory-Campeau has been selected as the first Duchy of Lancaster scholar at Harper Adams University. 

Second year Agriculture with Mechanisation student Andrew, 19, receives £2,500 in the current academic year to support his studies. 

Andrew, from Flagg, Derbyshire, is a former pupil of Lady Manners School, Bakewell and an active member of Buxton Young Farmers’ Club. 

He said: “I am incredibly grateful to have been chosen for this award, which will help me greatly in my studies, funding essentials for my course. For example, I will need to get my telehandler and spraying certificates before going on a work placement next year, and there are always more books to support my studies. 

“Agriculture interests me so much. It is a very exciting area of work with so many opportunities. Because of the world’s ever-growing population, agriculture now has the challenge of feeding more people than ever, with the added complication of climate change.

“I believe this presents not only a difficult task but also huge opportunities for advances in agricultural technologies.

“I am very pleased that the Duchy and the university have recognised my commitment to the sector and wish to support me in this way,” added Andrew, who was raised on the family farm, where dairy is the primary enterprise.  

The Duchy of Lancaster, which is custodian of more than 18,700 hectares of land across England and Wales, set up the scholarships scheme to support the next generation of farmers.

Nathan Thompson, Chief Executive of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: “A central aim of the Duchy of Lancaster is to protect the future of our agricultural land holdings and one of the key ways we can do this is by supporting the next generation of farmers.” 

Andrew, who hopes to one day run the family farm, has also been awarded a scholarship from the Studley College Trust.