One of the UK’s most influential agricultural journalists, Eddie Gillanders, has retired after a lifetime reporting farming matters.
Aberdeen-based Gillanders, the marketing manager for agricultural auctioneers ANM Group, joined The Press and Journal’s farming team in 1965 and after a period in industry, returned to the newspaper in 1973 as deputy agriculture editor, and was promoted to agricultural editor four years later.
During his time as editor, he launched The Press and Journal’s highly respected Farm Journal section.
In the mid-Eighties he left the P&J to set up his own farming magazine, Agri-Business Scotland, which he ran with his wife Marion. He later sold the magazine and joined the ANM Group and has latterly been responsible for all the group’s communications and its biannual ANM Journal.
In 1982 he was awarded the Netherhope Award – the highest honour given by the Guild of Agricultural Journalists – for his efforts in communicating agricultural issues to the wider community.
In 2001 he also received the Press and Journal and Royal Northern Agricultural Society Award for services to the North East agricultural industry.
Brian Pack, the ANM Group chief executive, said: “Eddie has made a tremendous contribution to the group over the years, raising our profile significantly throughout the UK.
“He is hard working and puts in a tremendous effort with his job with us, and I am absolutely sure he will not be retiring fully, but still continue to make a considerable contribution into the agri-sector.” Gillanders will continue as editor of the Aberdeen-Angus Review – the breed’s official journal – a post he has carried out since 1966.
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