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Editor’s tribute to regional daily’s ‘Mr Farming’

A regional daily editor has paid tribute to his paper’s ‘Mr Farming’ as he stepped down from the paper after 30 years.

As reported on HTFP earlier this month, Eastern Daily Press agricultural editor Michael Pollitt has bowed out after covering his final Royal Norfolk Show.

Colleagues held a celebration lunch to mark Michael’s departure at which he was presented with a personalised cartoon from the paper’s cartoonist Tony Hall along with his own farewell front page and other gifts.

Editor Nigel Pickover led the tributes to the “man in the puffa” who has covered a wealth of farming stories from the milk and butter lakes to BSE to foot-and-mouth disease.

Said Nigel:  “Michael’s depth of knowledge about East Anglian farming is, and will be, unsurpassed. This has been a marvellous career for the man in the Puffa jacket and the EDP has benefitted from his skills and dedication.

“The level of affection shown in recent days shows just how much he is regarded by the agricultural community. He will be a tough act to follow.”

The EDP’s business editor Shaun Lowthorpe added: “Michael began his career in 1984 at a time where a record grain harvest was the high water mark of farming’s fortunes. And his journalistic knowledge has reaped a bountiful harvest of stories for the newspaper ever since.

“He is a walking encyclopedia and he brings in stories because he knows everybody. He is what I’d call a good old fashioned honest reporter and has helped to keep the agriculture and farming at the heart of what the EDP does.”

Michael, who is also stepping down as a trustee of the Archant pension scheme after 18 years, said: “I have been extremely privileged to have worked for the EDP and I have made so many friends.”

The EDP is now advertising on HTFP for an Agricultural, Food and Farming Editor to replace Michael.

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  • July 14, 2014 at 10:46 am
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    Also the finest writer of obituaries in the regional press.

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