Rural insurer makes farmer local director

Mr Littlefair, 48, farms more than 380 acres in partnership with his wife at Hart Village. The farm is principally arable, growing wheat, barley, oil seed rape and beans for human consumption and they are "Farm Assured" for all their produce, including beef and lamb.

An unusual diversification on the farm is the training centre for disaffected youngsters taken out of mainstream education.

This was established three years ago and, at the moment, they work with five local schools, providing training and assessment for 13 to 16 year-olds in NPTC Certificate in Skills for Working Life in horticulture, animal care and agriculture.

Mr Littlefair succeeds John Moor, who retired as local director last year, and is a firm believer in the benefits of being a member of NFU Mutual.

"The farming business has been insured with the company for more than 70 years," he said. "NFU Mutual's strength lies in its mutuality, enabling profits to be used to reduce premiums and develop improved services, coupled with the fact that it is farming-based and understands the requirements of those living and working in the countryside."

A past NFU county chairman and current county treasurer, Mr Littlefair is vice-chairman of the NFU's national technical services committee. He is a member of the Health and Safety Executive Agricultural Advisory Committee, sits on the Regional Environmental Protection Advisory Committee, is a councillor for the Northern CBI, a representative on the Tees Valley Partnership Issues Working Group and a local parish councillor for Hart Village.

NFU Mutual specialises in insurance for rural businesses, and for people who live and work in the countryside.

It provides motor, personal and business insurance, together with pensions, investments and life assurance through its life division, which is regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

It has a network of 600 agents in towns and villages throughout the country