A NORTH Yorkshire landowner has been appointed the new president of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS).

Sir William Worsley, who owns the award-winning Hovingham Estate, is succeeding Charlotte Bromet, who handed over the president’s crook in a socially-distanced ceremony at the Great Yorkshire Show, in Harrogate.

Sir William is a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies and of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire and was recently appointed as chairperson of the Forestry Commission.

Sir William is also Lay Canon of York Minster, chairperson of the Howardian Hills AONB Joint Advisory Committee, serves on the North Yorkshire Rural Commission, has previously served as the government’s ‘tree champion’ and has chaired the National Forest Company.

“I am hugely privileged to become president of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society; for a Yorkshire landowner, it is probably the greatest honour you can be given,” said Sir William.

“It is sad that we have not had the Great Yorkshire Show this year, but we very much intend to make up for it next year.

“The show is a very special county event and I used to enjoy stewarding at it many years ago.

“Agriculture and forestry are really important industries in Yorkshire, and we need to ensure that they are celebrated, that new support schemes are right and that their introduction is properly managed.”

The Great Yorkshire Show, at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, was cancelled in July amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 130,000 visitors usually attend the three-day event in Harrogate which has been held annually since 1838.

The agricultural show instead featured online videos highlighting different aspects of farming life in the countryside.

“We are delighted to welcome Sir William as our new president and look forward to working with him as we plan for the Great Yorkshire Show’s return in 2021,” said Nigel Pulling, chief executive of YAS.

YAS supports and promotes the agricultural industry through health care, business, education and funding scientific research into rural affairs.