Almost 600 years of farming loyalty honoured at the Royal Norfolk Show

Farming careers spanning almost 600 years of loyalty, dedication and expertise were honoured at the Royal Norfolk Show.

The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA) presented Long Service Awards to 13 loyal farm workers, including tractor drivers, arable managers and a farm secretary.

All had careers of at least 35 years, and one had racked up a half century - self-employed rural gunsmith Christopher Tanner.

The award winners were:

John Cater, workshop manager / machine fitter at Raynham Farm Company, 37 years; Stephen Moore, lead sprayman at Orman, 39 years; Robert Riseborough, senior operator / tractor operator at Delta Farming, 43 years; Gary Dawes, farm operations manager at Orman, 43 years; Suzanne Meen, farm secretary at Orman, 43 years; Keith Debbage, self-employed hedgecutter, services to Norfolk, 45 years; Colin Pearce, farm operator at DC West Farms, 46 years; Richard Beck, arable specialist at RJ Moore & Partners, 47 years; Neville Ribbands, farm worker at Billockby Farms, 47 years; Kevin Banham, arable manager at JE Spratt, 47 years; Richard Burton, farm worker at MD Wright & Partners, 48 years; Philip Warnes, lead ploughman, 49 years; Christopher Tanner, self-employed rural gunsmith, services to Norfolk, 50 years.

For more stories and award-winners from the Royal Norfolk Show, see Saturday's EDP Farm and Country pages.