THE Tenant Farmers' Association celebrated Reg Haydon's tenth anniversary as national chairman at its annual meeting in London.

He took up the post in the spring of 1995 just as the Conservative Government was completing the legislation which introduced Farm Business Tenancies.

One Mr Haydon's main objectives as chairman has been to keep the Labour Party to its promise that it would review that legislation, if and when it came to power. His persistence led to the formation of the Tenancy Reform Industry Group, which is working with the Government to implement changes to the legislation.

"Reg has been at the helm of the TFA through some of the most difficult periods for British agriculture," George Dunn, TFA chief executive told the agm. "BSE, bovine TB, classical swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease and declining incomes have all been huge issues under his watch.

"Through all of this he has been determined to fight for the voice of the farm tenant to be heard and he has been successful in making that happen."

Mr Haydon has also had a major input into two Government White Papers for rural areas, two major reforms to the CAP, the report of the Curry Commission and many other policy areas.

He has always sought to ensure that specific impacts on the tenanted sector are recognised and resolved.

"In his time he has seen out seven Cabinet Ministers with responsibility for agriculture, 35 junior MAFF and Defra Ministers, ten front bench opposition spokesman, five CLA presidents and three NFU presidents," said Mr Dunn.

"He is well known to everyone in the industry as a staunch supporter of the farm tenant and the tenanted sector."

Mr Gaydon has a strong belief in keeping in touch with the grass roots membership of the association.

He has travelled tens of thousands of miles, meeting members all over Great Britain, and uses those contacts to influence directly his lobbying at all levels of Government.

"Reg is truly one of the industry's greatest advocates," said Mr Dunn.

"It has been a privilege to work alongside him for eight of his ten years as national chairman.

"The TFA, the tenanted sector and our industry continues to be well served by this great man."