FUW pays tribute to ‘farming stalwart’

THE Farmers’

Union of

Wales (FUW) is mourning the passing of union life member, Evan

R Thomas, pictured, from Carmarthen.

FUW president Glyn Roberts said: “The FUW has lost a farming stalwart. I regard Mr Thomas, or Evan R as everyone knew him, as probably the most gifted and intellectually able member since the FUW was formed during 1955.

“He was a remarkable and wonderful man. He literally gave his life to the FUW and to Welsh agriculture. His contribution has been exceptional and he served on a very large number of committees.”

Mr Thomas served for 12 years on the Secretary of State’s Agriculture Advisory Panel. He was a past member and chairman of Trawscoed Experimental Husbandry Farm Management and was chairman at the time of amalgamation with Pwllpeiran Experimental Husbandry Farm. He was also a member of the Wales LFA Appeals Panel and the Dairy Quotas Panel.

Mr Roberts added: “His contribution extended beyond agriculture and he served on the BBC Agricultural Advisory Committee, the Post Office Users Council for Wales and he was a past chairman of his local branch of the British Legion.”

Mr Thomas was the first FUW member to win a contested election against a NFU-sponsored candidate on to the Milk Marketing Board for south Wales in 1962.

This was a significant landmark in FUW history, showing the union could win the support of Welsh farmers at the ballot box.

Mr Roberts said: “Many of us will remember him as a strong, determined and powerful speaker at FUW meetings of our Grand Council, the FUW’s governing body. Over the years we have invited many politicians to address Grand Council, and the majority of them have suffered the forensic and strong challenge to their address from Evan R.”

He was awarded the MBE for Services to Agriculture in 1985.

The union president said: “He was a remarkable man, a wonderful friend of the FUW and of Welsh agriculture and very able. Whilst we all mourn his passing, I will always be grateful and proud that I knew him and that I had the pleasure of working with him.”

Mr Thomas is survived by his wife Olga and daughters Kathryn, Ingrid and Rosalie.