150th Anniversary

As a Lincolnshire “Yellow Belly” born and bred it is most appropriate that I have been elected as the President of the LAAV for the forthcoming 150th year. I follow many hardworking, well-known and respected members that have also had the privilege of undertaking this role.

I have looked at the Minutes Book for those recorded from the Centenary meeting which was held on Saturday 23rd February 1974. The Centenary President was Gordan Hillman White of Spalding and he replaced Neil Boulton of Willsons of Burgh-Le-Marsh – someone who I met during my work experience with this firm. There are also many of the attendees that I have met during my working career that are sadly no longer with us. There are also many relatives of current members of the Association that were in attendance.  This reinforces the longevity of most members’ involvement in the profession, something that we will hopefully be recognised more noticeably going forward with this introduction of gold and silver membership grades to be awarded to members at the AGM business meeting each year, as we did at the 150th AGM.

It is hard to imagine what our role as an agricultural valuer would have been 150 years ago, but I can only assume that there would have been a far greater number of contracts and clients as there was very little mechanisation and manpower was the order of the day.  I have seen immense change in agriculture during my life and I expect to see a lot more. Agriculture is fundamental to agricultural valuers and changes in it mean work for us as a profession. I am very proud to be your President in this special 150th year and ask you all to support our special events and contribute to the Association, as I am certain that the more you put into it, the more you can get out of it!

Finally, I trust that all members will remember to “Do what is right come what may”!

Andrew Houlden BSc (Hons) MRICS FAAV