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INFORM - THE CIREN SOCIETY PAGES

1990s

Stacey Mutkin

1995 MSc Business Studies for the

Food and Drink Industries

Having thoroughly enjoyed my time at Cirencester,

I started working as Marketing Director for our

family business, Knight’s Cider. At that time, we

were at the height of production, producing over

three million gallons for own label supermarket

brands, the Royal Duchy organic cider, and our

own brands Malvern Oak and Malvern Gold.

I married my fiancé Laurence in 1998, the

ceremony was held in the orchards – thankfully

the blossom held, and the wedding toast was

with cider. I found myself travelling between the

farm and London, and it soon became clear that

it wasn’t an ideal lifestyle. It was with regret that I

decided to stop working for the family business. 

I returned to my earlier passion of photography. I

started up my own business, photographing artists,

writers and many, many children! I became an

Associate of the Royal Photographic Society and

in 2000 won the BIPP Press and PR award. 

That year we had our first son Max, soon followed

by Hugo. I continued doing the photography

and bringing up the boys. Wishing to have a

garden for them, we moved from Westbourne

Grove over to Little Venice, where we still live.

Three years ago I also became involved in a textiles

company, Cosi, selling hand woven cashmere,

alpaca and yak scarves, and blankets. The fibres

were sourced in Mongolia and woven in Nepal for

clients such as Bamfords and Browns. Although

these businesses seem a long way from an MSc

in the Food and Drink Industries, the experience

at Cirencester has proven invaluable.

I’m in contact with Victoria Ellis neé Birdwood and

Gerald Theis, but would love to catch up with old

fellow students at the alumni dinner this September.

2000s

Linzie Maycock

2004 BSc (Hons) International

Equine and Agricultural Business

Management

After completing my course I gained a job at Fearing

International, where I was liaising with the ministry

and issuing sheep and cattle ear tags. I left Fearing

after eight months when I gained a job at the NFU

Mutual in Market Harborough. I quickly worked my

way up within the office and became a self-employed

appointed representative, specialising in estate and

rural insurance. I also help clients manage their

health and safety, and introduce financial services.

The degree I studied has helped me enormously

in terms of the RAU status, and the grounding

I received in equine and agriculture, including

the business elements. Without this, I’m sure

I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in today.

I loved my time at the RAU and was an avid member

of the polo team amongst other things. I left the Royal

Ag with a fantastic qualification, having made some

great friends and contacts, and wonderful memories.

2010s

Syed Shah

2015 MBA Business Management

in the Food Industries

Prior to joining the RAU, I spent 20 years in the

customer service and sales industries, and completed

my law degree pre internet. For me, 2015 was life

changing. I graduated with distinction in my MBA

Business Management in the Food Industries, and

then, after an application process spanning over a

year, I joined the Metropolitan Police Service as a

front line police officer for the Road Transport Policing

Command in conjunction with Transport for London.

Having settled into my exciting and challenging

new role, I’m looking to build on my experiences

sitting on the RAU’s Inclusivity, Equality and Diversity

committee and Academic Board, and fully utilise

my MBA within the MET. To complement this, I’m

already looking at a part-time doctorate (hopefully

at the RAU). A big thank you to the wonderful people

I’ve met and worked with at the University, my

future looks bright and interesting to say the least!

Syed Shah

Linzie Maycock

1980s

Paul Temple

1981 NDA

On leaving the RAC I joined the farming business,

building the business up and adapting to the flow of

the various CAP reforms, which at this point now has

the farm heavily focused on environmental schemes.

Wheat and barley is grown for seed, potatoes, oilseed

rape, forage maize, and vining peas. We’re members of

Swaythorpe Growers Ltd, now producing it’s own high

quality branded Yorkshire pea pack. Suckler beef are an

intrinsic part of environmental scheme management.

Fascinated by agricultural science and being fortunate

in travelling widely has given me a global insight into

farming, markets, and politics across the world. This

has enabled me to set up a group for EU farmers with

a biotech interest, chair an EU farming organisation

crop group, and hold the office of NFU Vice President.

In April 2015, I joined the Agriculture and Horticulture

Development Board’s (AHDB) main board as the

Chair of the Cereals and Oilseeds Sector, recently

re-branded from what was the HGCA.

It’s a particularly exciting time to be part of a rapidly

changing organisation as the various levy sectors work

closer together in new and innovative ways. Making

sense of sustainability and all that it can mean, is one

of my driving challenges. I see the AHDB as a people

organisation determined to work in smarter ways for

the benefit of all levy payers across the industry.

I’m constantly reminded of a past RAC lecturer’s wise

words, ‘Education is about knowing what questions

to ask and where to find the answer’. This seems to

neatly encapsulate what the AHDB needs to do in a

fast changing world and it’s fantastic to be part of it.

Stacey Mutkin

Paul Temple