Prestigious NFU Scotland/NFU Mutual award marks six decades of reporting on Scottish food and farming.
NFU Scotland and NFU Mutual’s prestigious Ambassador Award has been presented to Scottish agri-journalist legend Eddie Gillanders, marking his retirement from reporting after almost sixty years.
Established in 2009, the Ambassador Award was set up to recognise those individuals who, through their own efforts, have played an influential role in communicating the work, challenges and the value of Scottish food and farming to a wider audience.
Eddie’s journalistic journey started as assistant agricultural editor at the Press and Journal in 1964, and he would later return to the paper for a 20-year tenure as agricultural editor, overseeing the creation of its influential weekly farming supplement. Alongside his wife Marion, he would later go on to publish the well-respected independent farming magazines Agri-Business Scotland and Farm North East. In recognition of his journalistic skills, Eddie received the Netherthorpe award for excellence in communications from the UK Guild of Agricultural Journalists in 1982.
In press and marketing roles, many other businesses and organisations have benefitted from Eddie’s communications skills, support and guidance over the years including the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society, Aberdeen and Northern Marts, North East Farmers’ Co-operative and the Royal Northern Agricultural Society.
In autumn 2024, Eddie received the Lifetime Achievement at the Scottish Agricultural Awards ceremony in Glasgow.
Accompanied by his wife, Marion, Eddie was announced as the winner of the Ambassador trophy at NFU Scotland’s annual dinner in Glasgow (6 February), attended by more than 400 guests and delegates. Eddie received the award from NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy and NFU Mutual Chair Jim McLaren.
Announcing Eddie as the winner, NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy said: “Eddie has had a career steeped in agriculture and has been an integral part of our sector for over six decades. His insightful, honest, trustworthy and informative reporting of the highs and lows of Scottish agriculture over many years have been hugely valued by his readers and provided an invaluable source of informed comment on all parts of the agricultural and food industries.
“Since the mid-sixties, agricultural journalism has been his first love but a lifelong association with the Aberdeen Angus breed must make it a close second. Eddie was recognised for his dedication to the Angus breed with a lifetime achievement award in 2016 and it is only fitting, now that he has put down his pen and notebook, that we recognise his incredible achievements as a journalist.
“He is a tremendous advocate for Scottish farming and a very worthy winner of this Ambassador award.”
Notes to Editors
- Picture Caption – Agri Journalist legend Eddie Gillanders (centre), accompanied by his wife Marion and grandson Aaron received the prestigious Ambassador award at NFU Scotland’s annual dinner in Glasgow, recognising almost 60 years of journalism. The award was made by President Martin Kennedy and NFU Mutual chair Jim McLaren.
- The NFU Scotland/NFU Mutual Ambassador Award recognises those who have excelled at representing the nation’s agricultural and food industries. Now in its sixteenth year, past winners are: Ken Rundle, Dan Buglass (posthumous), Lady Claire MacDonald, David Leggat, John Cameron, Ian Duncan Millar, Joe Watson (posthumous), Ewan Pate, Bobby and Anne Lennox, Marion McCormick, James Graham, Tracey Roan, Andrew Arbuckle and Ian Davidson.
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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006