TMAF - Key Persons
Ben runs a family farm, alongside his father Mark, at Flixton on the Norfolk-Suffolk border. Predominately heavy soil, they focus on a mainly combinables rotation as well as some sugar beet and peas, with contract farming agreements running alongside their owned land. Ben achieved a first class degree from Newcastle University in Agriculture with Farm Business Management, with his dissertation ‘The Carbon Footprint of UK Arable Farms' being an area which he believes there will be much more focus in years to come. Outside of agriculture Ben enjoys sports, including playing rugby for Southwold, running and cycling.
Christine is a director of a family farm in mid-Norfolk which grows combinable crops (mainly grass for seed), sugar beet, potatoes and dwarf beans and runs a small suckler beef enterprise. Having been a science teacher, she is particularly interested in agricultural education and research and was a member of the Governing Body at Easton College, Norfolk, for almost 19 years and was a Board member of the Morley Research Centre before joining TMAF. She is also a Council member of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association. Christine takes particular interest in educational projects that TMAF invests in.
John Wallace has lived and breathed farming all his life. He was inspired to become involved with TMAF, as committee member and then Chair, to answer some of the questions raised in his own farming. He continues to work for Wallace Daniels Ltd, the contracting farming business he co-founded in 2008. Playing tennis is his sport of choice these days replacing his enormous enjoyment of cricket and rugby.
Researcher Louisa Moor feels lucky to be endeavouring on a 4-year PhD project supported by TMAF. In her first report to us about her work ‘Not all Soil Carbon is Equal' she reveals why tiny soil creatures are so fascinating.
Nick has been involved with Morley for over thirty years. His career was in practical farm management and he has always been interested in the technical and production side of agriculture. He now works as a consultant with a local company. He is very pleased that TMAF is able to provide funding for quality research and development, and that it is helping young people develop their careers.
Patrick runs a family business based in Suffield near North Walsham. He has a mixed farming system with finishing pig, combinable crops, vining peas, sugar beet, and AD feedstock, along with contract farming on neighbouring farms. Patrick is delighted to be joining the TMAF trustees as he believes that farming can only get stronger when working with science, communication, and education. One of his drivers is plant nutrition and finding different nutrient sources while making the best use of the resources we have. Away from the farm he is involved in North Walsham Rugby Club, coaching the mini's after playing for many years. He also enjoys cycling and skiing.
Retired since 2010 from farming 1500 acres arable and 400 farrow to finish sow herd, Philip Richardson, did a 1 year International Development and Climate Change Master's degree at UEA. He says that brought him up to date with climate science but led him to criticise the food and farming content of what is taught to international students, many of whom will be returning to their own countries in high-profile jobs but with little real knowledge of what in many cases will be the biggest component of their countries' economy. He took up lecturing and authored a book ‘An Appetite for Change' to give a global overview of challenges facing the food and farming sectors. Amongst all these tasks, Philip explains why he has maintained a long and deep involvement with TMAF.
Richard is the farm manager of a local farming business growing arable crops on its own land and for others on contract farming arrangements. The land is all entered into environmental stewardship schemes. Richard says, "I am pleased to have the opportunity to serve TMAF, an organisation that I have held in high regard for many years".
Semi-retired farmer, Robert Salmon, has been a lifelong supporter of the Morley Foundation. He shares some of the experience he brought to TMAF before he retired as a trustee in 2022.
Simon is a Partner of Irelands, Arnolds Keys and heads their specialist agricultural and rural property team. He joined the firm in 1983, straight from the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, where he studied Rural Estate Management. He is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and a fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV). Originally from Hampshire, Simon now lives in North Norfolk. He is the current Chairman of the Aylsham Agricultural Show Association and is a past President of the Norfolk Association of Agricultural Valuers. Simon has particular interest in the estate and property affairs of TMAF.
Job Titles:
- Retired Research Scientist With a
Stephen is a retired research scientist with a BSc in Biochemistry and a PhD in Plant Physiology. He studied plant physiology/biochemistry/genetics in the UK and USA before returning to lead a research programme at the John Innes Centre in Norwich. After twenty years of research, winning over £6m in competitive research grants, publishing over 60 peer-reviewed research papers, and undertaking a wide variety of management roles Stephen moved on to become the Science Operations Manager at John Innes Centre. He uses his expertise and scientific background to ensure TMAF invests in the best quality research.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chair
- Consultant With a Long Association With Morley
Sue is an independent crop consultant with a long association with Morley as a member, on the Experiments committees and TMAF advisory committee. Throughout, she's greatly valued the work done and the information produced which she regards as key to giving independent advice to farmers.
She is a member of the Association of Independent Crop Consultants and a director of Norfolk FWAG.
Outside work, Sue is chair of her local RNLI branch and local tennis club.