NGO National Committee appoints new Interim Chairman

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David Pooler, a gamekeeper from North Wales and the current NGO North Wales Chairman has been appointed as Interim Chairman of the NGO, following a National Committee meeting of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation on Sunday 14 November.

His appointment follows on from the out-going Chairman, Liam Bell, whose five-year term ends in 2021. A new, permanent Chairman will be voted in at a committee meeting after the 2022 AGM.

David has been involved with the NGO from its early stages, his membership number is 820, and he has been the North Wales Chairman for 23 years.

David has been a gamekeeper on the Rhug Estate in North Wales for 35 years.

The Estate is farmed organically with conservation in mind and their game is exported worldwide. In that time, he has seen the shoot develop from a family run enterprise into a commercial shoot that retains its family atmosphere. David was presented with a Special Achievement Award by Purdeys in 2018.

David Pooler, Interim Chairman of the NGO, said: “Firstly, I want to thank Liam for everything he has done for gamekeepers and the NGO over the past five years.

“He has championed our work and dedicated so much of his time to the organisation which hasn’t been easy as he still had the day job. It’s quite daunting to be following in his footsteps. I have been humbled that my peers have given me this position, admittedly only temporary!

“Everyone on the NGO Committee is a gamekeeper. A gamekeeper’s knowledge of the countryside, nature and land management is second to none and I’m here to continue the tradition of standing up for our sector and fighting our corner. 

“My first action has been to appoint two new National Vice Chairman to give the NGO greater coverage across the country and I look forward to working with them in the coming months.”

The two new additional National Vice Chairmen:

Ian Sleightholm, North Yorkshire (Chairman of the NGO Moorland Branch) 
David Wiggins, Berkshire (Chairman of the NGO Deer Branch)

Current and continuing Vice Chairmen:

Brian Mitchell, Devon 
Geoff Garrod, Essex

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