THE chairman of the Royal Cheshire County Show has been given a prestigious award for his dedication all things countryside.

Tony Garnett, who lives in Tabley, is this year’s winner of the Capesthorne Millennium Cup, which was announced at Cheshire Agricultural Society’s annual meeting.

The Cup, which was donated by Sir William and Lady Bromley Davenport of Capesthorne Hall in 2000, is awarded for ‘exceptional endeavour in promoting the interests of agriculture of countryside-related activities in Cheshire.’

“I am absolutely delighted,” said Tony. “We do various things for the benefit of the country and I don’t really expect to be rewarded for them but it is an honour.

“I’m involved with 10 or 12 very worthy organisations and I get pleasure in doing that. The main thing of course is the Royal Cheshire County Show itself.”

The award is administered by the Cheshire Agricultural Society through a small committee chaired by Sir William Bromley Davenport.

Each year the society seeks nominations from organisations concerned with agriculture and the countryside in Cheshire, including the National Farmers’ Union, Cheshire WIs and Nantwich Agricultural Society.

Tony’s association with the Cheshire farming community has been described as ‘broad and extensive’ and was taken into account when considering his nomination.

His contributions to the farming community include being President of Knutsford Young Farmers and Cheshire NFU, chairman of Cheshire Farms Competition, Cheshire Farmers Club and Cheshire NFU and Royal Cheshire County Show council member for 25 years as well as being the current chairman of the Cheshire Agricultural Society.