Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE, The Black Farmer, is to deliver this year's annual Bledisloe Lecture at the Royal Agricultural University's (RAU) Cirencester campus.

In his lecture entitled Jeopardy - the Danger of Playing it Safe, Wilfred, who is a member of the RAU governing council, will speak about his own life story, as well as his work to increase diversity in the UK's food and farming sectors.

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE said: "I am passionate about bringing more diversity to the food and farming industries, but to do this requires courage and real commitment to change. I can't think of a better place to raise this challenge than the RAU, which has the power to influence this change."

A child of the Windrush, Wilfred's own life has been a series of challenges. His journey has taken him from Jamaica to a childhood of poverty in inner city Birmingham, but with a love of the family allotment. From there he became a chef, a BBC producer and director, and The Black Farmer.

The annual event, which takes place during Black History Month, will be held at the University's Boutflour Hall on Tuesday October 19, starting at 6.30pm.

RAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter McCaffery will introduce Wilfred and will host a question-and-answer session at the end of the lecture.

The prestigious lecture is named after eminent RAU alumnus, Charles Bathurst, the first Lord Bledisloe (1867-1958), who was also governor general of New Zealand in the early 1900s. Deeply interested in agriculture and forestry, he was one of the staunchest supporters of the then Royal Agricultural College.

Tickets for the 2022 Bledisloe Lecture are £5 per person to include refreshments and can be bought at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bledisloe-lecture-2022-wilfred-emmanuel-jones-tickets-431964406167. 

All monies raised will go towards supporting RAU students from black and ethnic minority backgrounds.