Richard Ashton receives long service award at Devon County Show

Machinery and delivery driver Richard Ashton was presented with a 30-year agricultural service award at the Devon County Show.

The award – a certificate and commemorative glass tankard – was presented by Devon County Show President Lady Arran of Castle Hill and Noel Stevens from award sponsors Alder King.

Richard – who moved from West Sussex to start milking pedigree Jerseys on a dairy farm near Modbury in 1983 – has spent the past eight years driving chippers and delivery lorries across the South West for wood fuel specialist Forest Fuels, delivering blown and tipped wood chip.  Richard is held in particularly high regard as he ensures that the quality of wood fuel he delivers to customers is consistent at all the depots throughout the South West.

“This is a tremendous honour,” said Richard, “I have always regarded myself as an agricultural worker and particularly now – delivering woodchip to farmers, landowners and other businesses throughout the south west – my knowledge of farms and farming is especially valuable.”

After 10 years of milking in Modbury, in 1994 Richard moved to near Shebbear in North Devon, where he milked milking cows in the morning on one farm, then again in the afternoon on another.

In addition to his current job with Forest Fuels, Richard also runs a suckler herd with his son Luke with two breeds of cattle - the North Devon ‘Red Ruby’ along with some rare-breed Gloucesters.

Richard’s award was granted by the Devon County Agricultural Association (DCAA).  Nominations were accepted for employees that have worked for a minimum of 30 years in agriculture, horticulture or forestry in Devon.

Those eligible must have been employed in Devon for not less than 30 years with either one employer, or multiple employers, and whose work is mainly agricultural, horticultural or forestry based, according to the Agricultural Act.

Photos courtesy of Devon County Show.