Well-known Scottish agricultural journalist, Dan Buglass, who died in October 2009 was posthumously honoured with the NFU Scotland Ambassador Award at the Union’s AGM in St Andrews today (Friday, 19 February). Dan’s son, Andrew, collected the award.
Established by NFU Scotland in 2009 and supported by NFU Mutual, the award was set up to recognise the industry’s ambassadors – those individuals who, through their own efforts, have played an influential role in communicating the work, challenges and the value of Scottish farming to a wider audience.
A farmer turned reporter; Dan covered Scottish agriculture and rural affairs for television, radio, newspapers and magazines during a journalistic career that started in the Sixties. His untimely death came as he served as Rural Affairs Editor for the daily newspaper, The Scotsman.
NFU Scotland Chief Executive James Withers, speaking at the award presentation, said:
“Dan Buglass was a true friend to Scottish agriculture and the wider rural community. Steeped in Borders farming tradition, he knew the industry inside out. This gave him the ability to debate thorny policy issues with the politicians of the day while still being able to translate those issues into words or print that his fellow farmers and the wider public could grasp.
“His writing was always fair and passionate and was a real force for good in the industry. Indeed, Dan had been such a fixture in Scottish rural life for so long that it is difficult to conceive an NFU Scotland AGM taking place without him present. Dan is fondly remembered and whilst agricultural journalism and the industry are poorer for his passing, they are all the better for his contribution.
“I am delighted that his son, Andrew, is here to collect the award on behalf of the Buglass family.”
NFU Mutual Group Chief Executive Lindsay Sinclair said:
“For almost a century, NFUS and NFU Mutual have together been supporting the Scottish farming industry in securing a profitable future. In order to do this, we need the public and the industry’s support and to achieve that we need individuals who are willing to dedicate their time to conveying and articulating the industry’s message. Dan was such a person, and his family can be justifiably proud of the service he gave to Scottish farming.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Dan Buglass, Rural Affairs Editor of The Scotsman, died on 31 October 2009 following a short illness. Born and raised on a Borders farm, Dan started out as a full time farmer before developing a journalistic career that included daily newspapers, regional papers, weekly farming magazines, television and radio.
- The inaugural winner of the award, first made in 2009, was former BBC broadcaster Ken Rundle. Ken is currently Head of Communications at SAC.
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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006