One of the best-known figures

in the agricultural circles

of West Wales, George

Mathias, of Summerton

Farm, St. Florence, has been

recognised in the New Year's

Honours List.

He has a proud record of

sterling service within the

farming community, both

locally and nationally, and

also on the political scene in

West Wales.

Born and brought up at

Norchard, Manorbier, he met

and married his wife May -

formerly Hughes, of

Knightson Farm, New Hedges

- and the couple have two

sons, Clive (a solicitor now

based at St. Clears) and

Andrew, who officially took

over the family business

almost 20 years ago.

George entered farming on

his own account in 1961 when

he acquired the 220-acre

Summerton Farm - which was

then in Carew parish - and,

encouraged by his late fatherin-

law, became actively

involved within the National

Farmers Union. His grandfather

incidentally had been

amongst the founder

Pembrokeshire members in

the early '30s.

As a member of the Kilgetty

branch of the union, he was

elected to the executive committee,

and various commodity

sub-committees, of the

Pembroke County branch.

Over the years, adjoining

farm properties became amalgamated

with Summerton,

which now extends to around

750 acres.

George was a founder member

of what was to become a

highly successful calf marketing

group, also Pembrokeshire

Quality Livestock and the

agricultural training scheme

for young entrants.

Conservation schemes were

entered into, with support and

advice from FWAG, and some

40 acres of broad leaved and

evergreen trees were planted

15 years ago and harvesting is

about to begin.

After his initial election, and

eventually becoming County

NFU chairman, George served

as a county delegate to the

national council of the union

for some 17 years.

During this time, he was

elected to the Livestock

Export Council, travelling

widely within Europe actively

promoting the lamb and calf

trade.

At this time, he also represented

the NFU in Wales as a

council member on the

Confederation of British

Industries and served on the

Agricultural Wages Board.

One of his proudest achievements

was helping to put in

place a Legal Assistance

Scheme for NFU members

which, over a period of years,

has since brought immense

benefit to individual members

and has also well served the

industry as a whole. He was

chairman of the administrative

body for Wales and vice-chairman

nationally.

Back to grassroots he (and

May) reflect fondly on their

days as members of Tenby

YFC, during which time the

club was the only one in

Wales, ever, to have won the

National Efficiency Shield.

They also actively participated

in drama, public speaking,

stockjudging and hosted

foreign exchangees from various

corners of the world.

The couple have also supported

the parish church and

George was, in his young

days, a playing member of

Manorbier cricket and football

teams.

Brought up with Hereford

cattle and the pedigree

'Norchard' herd at home, he

has been a devout supporter of

the breed and has delightedly

accepted many invitations to

judge entries at the summer

shows.

Nearer home, he is a former

chairman and president of the

Pembroke Farmers Club, and

a past president of both the

South Pembrokeshire

Ploughing Association and of

the South Pembrokeshire

YFC.

Always with strong political

views, George has also, more

recently, served as chairman

of the West Carmarthenshire

and South Pembrokeshire

Conservative and Unionist

Association.

He receives the MBE for

services to agriculture.