Newell Bigham Returns to Harper Adams After 58 years

Posted 14 May 2007

Newell Bingham from near Kilkeel was the first Harper Adams student from Ireland post war. He entered the National Diploma in Poultry Husbandry in September 1949. Since leaving he has made an almost annual visit to Harper Adams University College. This month he visited Harper Adams and met with the Principal, Professor Wynne Jones and two leading students from Northern Ireland currently studying poultry related courses; John Kirkpatrick from Derryork and David Lawrence from Magherafelt.

Professor Jones updated Newell on Harper Adams’ most recent developments and accolades, including the University College being the only specialist higher education institute in the land-based sector being granted Research Degree Awarding Powers and also being awarded a national Energy Efficiency Award.

David and John spoke of their studies and of interests and issues within the agricultural industry as well as of the villages, towns and people that they and Newell all know.

Both David and John are award winners in their own right and Newell, who had a distinguished career in the Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland and is still active within the poultry industry, was particularly interested in their awards. These include the Poultry Industry Education Trust Award and the Worshipful Company of Poulters Scholarship.

During his return visit to Harper Adams Newell said "There have been so many changes since I studied for a National Diploma in Poultry 58 years ago. The development of the site has been quite incredible. I am also very impressed with the number of courses now on offer that now include the likes of Engineering, Business Management and Food related subjects as well as the core agriculture courses. In 1949 there were National Diplomas in Agriculture and Poultry!"

Newell is also visiting many friends that he made when studying at Harper Adams. He is travelling the length of the country, covering over 2,000 miles, on his travels before returning to County Down.

Whilst at the University College Newell kindly agreed to some photographs being taken to mark the occasion.