A NORTHWICH man has been honoured by the University of Chester for his outstanding contributions to agriculture and education in Cheshire.
John Platt received an honorary degree at the university’s presentation of awards last week.
His new title of Doctor of Science joins a collection of tributes, including an OBE for services to Cheshire agriculture and a Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. He is a Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire.
Keenly interested in the development of young farmers and young people in the industry as a whole, John, 77, has been chairman of governors at Reaseheath College in Nantwich since 1996. He is also president of the Mid Cheshire Sheltered Workshop for the Disabled.
He has chaired the Cheshire Agricultural Society for nearly 30 years and co-ordinates the Cheshire County Show.
He has been a key figure in the Cheshire Young Farmers’ Clubs and in local branches of the National Farmers’ Union for more than half a century, and other roles include chairman of the Cheshire County Council Rural Strategy Advisory Committee.
John, whose family has farmed in Lach Dennis for generations and still runs a dairy business in partnership with his son, said: “The invitation from the university came as a complete surprise, but I was delighted to accept.
“The whole occasion was tremendously exciting. As I said in my acceptance speech, one of my main aims in life is to inspire students and I hope that I have achieved this through my association with youth organisations.”
