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Meet The Team

The Brailsford Ploughing & Hedgecutting Match has been a feature of the farming calendar for generations, and it wouldn’t be possible without the efforts and commitment of the society members.

From ploughmen/women and hedgecutters to bakers, caterers, and stewards, our committee is made up of volunteers who share a passion for farming, rural traditions, and keeping this much-loved event alive for future generations.

Here you can get to know the team who help organise the match each year.

Committee at 2025 AGM
The Brailsford Ploughing & Hedcutting Society
Committee Members AGM 2025
Robert Prince

Robert Prince

President

Mark Adams

Chairman

I have been a keen supporter of the Brailsford & District Ploughing & Hedgecutting Society from an early age. My parents, grandparents, and wider family have been enthusiastic competitors over the years, and I have also competed in more recent times — firstly in hedgelaying, and then in the ploughing classes, with good success.

My partner, Kathryn, has also taken part, competing in the baking and handicraft classes with great success.

I was invited to join the committee 10 years ago, and it will be a privilege to serve as Chairman in 2026 and 2027.

Gary Marsh

Vice Chairman

Alan Mosedale

Alan Mosedale

Junior Vice Chairman

Lynne Parnell

Lynne Parnell

Secretary

I suppose you could say that the Brailsford Ploughing and Hedgecutting Society runs through my veins. My family has been involved since the very beginning — from my Grandad, C.T. Goodall, competing with growing crops and cereals, to my dad, Robin, ploughing, and my uncle, Brian, hedgecutting.

I was very honoured to be asked to take on the role of Secretary after enjoying my time with the Derby YFC ploughing committee.

I have match-ploughed (and done rather well, even if I do say so myself!) and I truly appreciate the technical side of the competition.

Of course, my background is in farming, and now I help my husband, Michael, run his family farm. Both my boys, Jack and Charlie, are farming mad. My main job is as a caterer, and I love being able to use our own beef and lamb while promoting British farming.

Colin Prince

Colin Prince

Trade Stand Steward & Sponsors

The Prince family has been involved in The Society as Presidents in four generations and Chairman in Two.

In over a century at our farm, Sapperton Manor, we have witnessed many changes to our farming system.

Today, like many farmers, we have diversified into other income streams. In our case office and industrial lets together with entering into as many environmental schemes that benefit the farm, (and our pockets!) as possible. We still operate as an arable farm with short term grass leys as our break crop, taken for silage by our good neighbours who also help with the crop establishments, harvest and storage.

As Trade Stand Steward I follow on from my predecessor, John Yates who, over forty years, built up the Trade Stand Section to what it is today.

Our trade exhibition is a vibrant showcase of rural enterprise, bringing together an incredible variety of businesses across our fields. From the very latest in agricultural machinery and technology and local crafts, and essential rural services, there is truly something for everyone.

It provides a unique platform for businesses to connect directly with the community, and we are incredibly grateful to both our sponsors, returning exhibitors and those joining us for the first time.

I would also like to thank Bill Slater and Andrew Jones, the field stewarding team and committee members, whose hard work ensures the smooth running of the trade section.

Nicola and Andy Heath - Assistant Plough Secretary and Plough Secretary

Nicola and Andy Heath

Assistant Plough Secretary & Plough Secretary

Stewart Archer

Stewart Archer

Hedgelaying Secretary

Sue White Treasurer

Sue White

Treasurer

Bill Slater

Bill Slater

Web Co-ordinator

The Son of a City Lad.

My father was a precision engineer and toolmaker, and my mother was a state-registered nurse. After the war, and with a young family, they made the decision to go into farming to give their children a better life.

By the time I came along (a late arrival — and still the same), they had established a Guernsey herd. However, with changes in agricultural policy, they were unable to keep going. Too late for me though — farming was already in my blood.

Throughout my working career, I’ve had a wide range of occupations, some of which might well stop a conversation in its tracks. But farming has always kept pulling me back, to the point that my wife Sally and I now have our own holding “where we do farming.”

Having visited the Brailsford Ploughing Match on a number of occasions with my late father-in-law, Norman Clarke, I felt that the society was something I could get involved with, just doing my bit to help. What a fantastic organisation to be a member of, with some really amazing people.

Roy Dutton - Gate Steward

Roy Dutton

Gate Steward

Eric Tunstall

Eric Tunstall

Archivist

Being involved in farming all my life, I was born on my Grandfather’s farm in Trusley, working from the age of 14 to the age of 66 when I retired, mainly as a herdsman on different farms in the area no more than 7 miles to where I live now in Hilton.

I became more involved with the ploughing match in 1999 when I went to work for Ken Atkin, he encouraged me to go on the committee and get interested in the history of the match, as I was a trustee of “The Magic Attic” Swadlincote, which has a large collection of old newspapers.