HARRY Cotterell of the wellknown Herefordshire farming family, whose Garnons country estate is 12 miles west of Hereford, has been elected deputy president of the rural watchdog body the Country Land & Business Association, otherwise known as the CLA.

After a short service commission in the Household Cavalry, Mr Cotterell settled in Herefordshire 20 years ago, initially to farm in partnership with his father Sir John.

He has been involved with the CLA for more than 10 years and has served as chairman of the Herefordshire branch.

He said: “The CLA has always been a forward-thinking organisation. It is one of our great strengths. I love the countryside and feel passionately about the rural economy.”

The strategy on the Garnons estate during the past 20 years has been to move away from subsidised crops and to supply local markets. The main enterprises on the estate now are cider fruit, mushrooms, chickens and arable.

There is also a commercial forestry operation and a small shoot.

As well as the countryside, Mr Cotterell is interested in reading, motorcycles and scuba diving.

The CLA’s new president is William Worsley from North Yorkshire, a businessman, farmer and forester. He previously served as the association’s deputy president, vice-president, chairman of the board and chairman of policy committee.

He said: “It is a great honour to be elected president of the CLA. I am keen to build on the hard work and great successes of past presidents, leading a most active and able CLA membership and staff. CLA members own approximately half the rural land in England and Wales and the resulting expertise puts us in a unique position to formulate policies and lobby effectively.”