But once he got out of selling chocolate and came into the pig industry, he really made his mark and it was his hard work and dedication which led judges to make him this year’s recipient of the David Black Award.

Ian, 65 moved to his Suffolk home in 1970 when he gave up being a chocolate salesman and started selling animal feed instead.

He also worked with United Pig Breeders for 17 years, then left to set up his own AI equipment and consultancy firm, Unitron. He also worked with a local landowner with a nucleus breeding unit which he ran till 1999.

His foray into the political side began shortly after the British Pig Industry Support Group was formed.

Ian said: “I was approached by a couple of producers who were worried about the impact the BPISG activity might have on their businesses – fear of what retailers might do.

“”They wanted me to be the fall guy and I accepted. I was very angry because retailers had led the industry down the garden path over stalls and tethers, then as a result of currency changes went and bought cheap foreign pig meat rather than the home-produced standard they had demanded.

“I joined the NPA soon after it was formed as regional chairman for East Anglia and then became Regional Manager. In 2000 there was an outbreak of Classical Swine Fever on my patch.

“I did most of the linkage between the industry and Government and then when FMD broke out I was doing the same with Defra.”

On winning the David Black Award, said: “I am genuinely thrilled. It is an accolade which I appreciate because it is from my peers.

“There are many people out there who are not as noisy as some about their achievements but are doing fantastic jobs without attracting attention.”

Looking back over his life in the pig industry, Ian reckons he is almost a bit of a fraud as he has truly enjoyed everything he has done.

He comes from a non-farming background but always wanted to get into the practical side of agriculture and this he achieved but went far beyond simply working in pig production.

He said: “I believe my skill lies in words and conveying the appearance of knowing what I am talking about. I have some ability to find the right words to encourage others to do what is necessary. I have had a huge amount of satisfaction from what I have done.”