A former weekly newspaper journalist has been honoured for his contribution to the meat and livestock industry.

Robert Forster, left, has become the first ever journalist to win the Royal Smithfield Club Bicentenary Trophy, which rewards the “success of an individual or organisation” and their input into the industry.

Agricultural writer Robert began his career on the Hexham Courant in 1980, but within two years had been headhunted by the Farmers Guardian to be their Northern Counties regional correspondent.

He continued to write for the Courant until 1998 under the pen name Matt Ridley.

Robert told his old paper: “The training at the Courant was pivotal to my career.

“Journalists don’t get recognition and when I look at the previous winners of this award, it really pleases me because I think our profession is too easily criticised.”

As a freelance livestock correspondent, he also worked for the BBC’s farming programmes Farming Today and On Your Farm.

Robert retired aged 70 earlier this year from the editorship of Beef Industry News. He is now writing a book about the time he spent in Papua New Guinea during his twenties.