WE ALWAYS look forward each year to the Cheadle NFU branch annual dinner.

For the second year running they have held the event at the Sneyd Arms at Whiston. It is certainly proving a very popular venue these days.

The meal we had last Tuesday evening was top drawer. Locally produced roast beef with all the trimmings, it was outstanding.

It just shows whatever business you are in, if you do the job well you'll succeed. Certainly this lovely village pub is getting ever more popular with diners.

There are sadly too many catering establishments turning out food which is both expensive and of a poor standard, no wonder we are seeing 'for sale' signs on so many pubs.

Our toastmaster Ken Unwin was proud to show us all the MBE which he had received at Buckingham Palace only last Friday from His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.

Guest speaker Chris Hall, from Croxden, near Uttoxeter, gave an excellent address which was both amusing and also very much to the point.

He talked at length about the Young Farmer movement and how lucky we were in Staffordshire to have so many successful clubs.

He particularly mentioned his own local branch, Eccleshall, which through the sale of a rather saucy calendar had raised more than £6,000 for charities.

In his view, the future of young farmers and farming would go from strength to strength. He certainly left us optimistic for agriculture in the future.

I don't know whether the local auctioneers had come out in force because they had heard what a first class 'do' the Cheadle NFU dinner always is, or whether they were out to pick some business up.

It is always nice to see the local auctioneers and though we had a few jokes with them, their attendance and support is always appreciated.