Only Rupert Cox has my full confidence

Today I tell a tale of two citizens.

Both have key rural roles but only Rupert Cox has my full confidence.

This year’s Royal Bath & West Show was the first held under his direction and congratulations must go to Rupert and his team for putting on a great event.

As chief executive of the Somerset Chambers of Commerce for the previous nine years, Rupert has brought a wealth of experience of membership organisations, event management, political acumen and, most importantly accomplished leadership skills.

Rupert is also steeped in rural life as a farmer’s son with a 20-year career in agriculture before takinga change in direction in 2000, first working for the Federation of Small Business.

On taking on his new role in January Rupert said: “I am honoured to have been appointed the chief executive of the Royal Bath & West of England Society. Who would have thought that when I started stewarding in the sheep section of the Bath & West Show as a teenager 35 years ago, I would return to lead this iconic and highly regarded institution?”

He is deeply committed to the important role the Bath and West Show plays in bringing consumers and producers closer together while demonstrating the process from field to fork.

This is particularly important now with the problems farmers are facing as commodity prices remain low, so I was pleased to see Liz Truss, the Secretary of State for DEFRA, visit the show.

However it was disappointing to hear from many that she did not seem as committed to the needs of the farming industry as her predecessor, Owen Patterson, who David Cameron sacked last year.

This impression may be unfair, but as one of my colleagues who saw her at the show said: “She did not seem to want to look anyone in the eye when she was talking to them”, which never leads to a great feeling of confidence.

I just hope this impression of the minister is wrong and that she proves supportive of an industry which is being battered by low commodity prices abroad and an imbalance of power between the supermarkets and their farming suppliers at home.  

James Stephen MRICS FAAV
Partner
Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor, Wells
T: 01749 683381
E: james.stephen@carterjonas.co.uk