Members of the Narberth and District Probus Club could be forgiven for thinking that the guest speaker at their monthly lunch, on March 31, might write his own press report. This was because Meyrick Brown, a regular contributor on agricultural matters to local papers and national press, entertained them. Last year, Meyrick was deeply honoured to receive the annual Idris Davies Memorial Prize. The award is made in recognition of an outstanding contribution to agriculture in Pembrokeshire, to promoting the many and varied aspects of the industry and for work with, and encouragement for, Young Farmers Clubs over many years. In his talk, Meyrick painted a vivid picture in words as he spoke about his early life, describing how he started his schooling among half-a-dozen local lads who had to attend an LCC school started near his home for evacuees. He described his involvement with YFCs and how he reported club meetings for the local press and was responsible for many years for preparation of the County Year Book. He reminisced how after the rejection of what he thought was a particularly good report, he was told by the editor that a photograph would have made all the difference to his written word. So he went on to develop photographic skills to supplement his reports and on one occasion 18 of his photographs appeared in one edition of a newspaper. Meyrick had come from a farming background and, although he had ambitions for a career in printing, family circumstances took him back to the family farm and later to farm where his wife, Janet's, family had farmed. Some 15 years ago he had retired from farming to concentrate on journalism, which until then had been very much an evening and weekend task. Now he is an elected member for the worldwide Guild of Agricultural Journalists. Not bad, he quipped, for somebody who had no secondary education. Meyrick concluded his talk by describing how journalism had changed through the introduction of IT for transmission of reports and photographs. But deadlines still had to be met. In thanking Meyrick Brown on behalf of the club, Owen Bushell, himself a farmer, spoke about the fascinating insight Meyrick had given to his life. He was also to be praised for so ably championing the cause of agriculture in Pembrokeshire, particularly the underdog. Earlier in the meeting, secretary, John Mathias, had told members that the club was in the process of establishing a link with the Probus Club of Ludlow in line with the twinning arrangement being established between the Town Councils of Narberth and Ludlow. It was hoped to arrange an exchange of speakers and to join in some shared activities and meetings. In closing the meeting, president, Ivan Caley, reminded members that the next meeting, on April 28, would be a ladies' lunch, when the speaker would be Elin Phillips, a solicitor specialising in wills, estates and probate.
