The National Sheep Association (NSA) is pleased to name David Pittendreigh as the 2024 recipient of the NSA Bob Payne Award for an unsung hero within the organisation. The award is specially selected from the many volunteers and officeholders who are at the heart of the work of NSA.

David who farms near Llandysul, Ceredigion, has made a lifetime contribution to the sheep industry from his early days in Scotland and nearly 50 years in Wales.

NSA Cymru / Wales Region Development Officer Helen Roberts says: “I am delighted David has won this award. Since knowing David, he has always been willing to help in any way he can with the running of NSA Cymru Region and NSA Welsh Sheep. His knowledge of the industry is second to none and there is no one more deserving of this accolade.”

Following a diploma achieved from the North of Scotland College of Agriculture in 1962 David began as a shepherd on the Black Isle in the Scottish Highlands with 600 North Country Cheviots before moving to the Scottish border, having responsibility for a flock of 1500 Scottish Blackface sheep.

With land prices lower in Wales, David ventured south in 1971 to buy a farm in Llandysul and purchased some Llanwenog sheep at the farm dispersal auction. He became one of the pioneers of flock recording in Wales and was instrumental in forming the Llanwenog Group Breeding Scheme in 1979 with five other breeders.

Realising the potential the North Country Cheviot (NCC) breed could offer Welsh hill farmers he established a flock by purchasing 50 ewes on the retirement of his former employer on the Black Isle. This proved a successful move and David went on to help establish more than 50 flocks in Wales and the Borders with many young shepherds praising his help and guidance. He was instrumental in establishing the NCC Welsh Breeders Club, that now has its own breed sale at Usk, Monmouthshire.

David was honoured with the Presidency of the NCC Sheep Society in 2009-10 and was proud to invite and host many of his fellow breeders from Scotland to the AGM, dinner and flock visits held in West Wales - the breed's first AGM in Wales. In 2015 he was awarded the much-coveted Michael Peters Quaich Award for his lifetime contribution to the breed and the Society.

A much-respected judge he has been honoured to judge at many shows, from the Royal Cornwall to the Orkneys, including the Royal Welsh and Royal Highland. He has exhibited widely and has been selling at the NSA Wales and Border Ram Sale on a regular basis. David is also a past NSA Cymru Chairman and continues to work tirelessly for the NSA and the Sheep industry and his dedication, interest and mentoring show no signs of waning.

NSA Cymru / Wales Region Chair Kate Hovers adds: “I am delighted that David has won this award. He is a lifelong supporter of NSA and the whole sheep industry. He is a voice of reason and encouragement who can be depended on to always help without fuss or expectation of recognition. He is a true unsung hero.”

David (pictured on the left below with fellow NSA Cymru committee member Llew Thomas) will be presented with his award at the NSA Welsh Sheep event that will take place on Wednesday 21st May 2025 at Tregoed Farm, Brecon, by kind permission of Penny Chantler and sons Sam and Will Sawday. More information about NSA Welsh Sheep can be found at www.welshsheep.org.uk.