Mr. John James, Mellaston Park, formerly of Sampson Farm, Stackpole, is the recipient of the 2005 Idris Davies Memorial Award. The award is made annually to a person for their outstanding contribution to agriculture whilst normally resident in Pembrokeshire.
The son of a policeman with a strong desire to farm, he left school at 15 to attend Pibwrllwyd to study agriculture, with the intention to progress onto Aberystwyth, but unfortunately World War II broke out.
At the age of 19, he successfully had the tenancy of West Farm, Castlemartin and later progressed to have the tenancy of 300 acres at Sampson Farm following the death of his father-in-law.
From his early days he has had a lifetime interest in horses. A member of British Driving Society, he gained a national reputation for this skill in driving horse-drawn carriages. This came to the notice of the British Film Industry, and he appeared in a number of films and TV series, including 'The Onedin Line.'
Now in semi-retirement, he spends many hours of this time helping the RDA, but in the past has been an active individual with the community and some of his public work has included governor of
Stackpole School over 25 year, past chairman of Castlemartin Parish Council, Stackpole Community Council and Pembroke Farmers' Club.
He has also served as a member of the county executive of the NFU and became the youngest chairman of the Pembroke branch and served on the same committee as the late Mr. Idris Davies. He has two daughters, five grandchildren, several great-grandchildren. One of his grandchildren, Jonathan Thomas, is currently a Welsh international rugby player.