Two 'wonderful people to have worked with' are to be honoured for their combined century of work on a south Norfolk farm.

Fitter Terry Emms and herdsman Ian Briggs have both worked for JD Alston Estates at Kenninghall for 50 years - and they will join 11 other long serving farmworkers at the Royal Norfolk Show next week to receive special awards.

Both Terry's father Kenny and Ian's father Bob also worked on the farm, which covers some 2,000 acres of arable land and runs a herd of 360 dairy cows.

Director James Alston said: 'Terry and Ian have been with us since school and I can honestly say they have been two wonderful people to have worked with.

'Terry is a very inventive chap. He's quite capable of stripping out an engine and putting it back together again. He came to us as an apprentice and has been largely self-taught since then.

'Like Terry, Ian has hardly had a day off sick in all the time he's been here. He started here as a tractor driver, switching to the dairy 15-20 years ago. I always say herdsmen are born rather than trained - and Ian is one of those, a natural.'

Mr Alston said both men had witnessed enormous change of their 50-year careers in farming, with horses still in use on some units when they started out.

'They have worked through a technological age,' he added.

Sponsoring the awards for the third year running, Woodforde's brewery managing director Rupert Farquharson said: 'The awards are at the heart of what the show is all about, honouring those who have dedicated their working lives to the county's land.

'We've always enjoyed a close relationship with Norfolk's farming community and are committed to using the finest locally sourced ingredients in our beers, including world-renowned Maris Otter barley, grown right here in Norfolk.

'We encourage showgoers to visit the President's Tent at 12pm on Thursday to applaud the winners and recognise their significant contributions to Norfolk agriculture.'

LONG SERVICE AWARDS

NAME SERVICE EMPLOYER

Keith List 51 years Barningham Farms

Ian Briggs 50 years JD Alston

Terry Emms 50 years JD Alston

Peter Clitheroe 50 years HJ Holden and Son

Alan Hammond 49 years ER Crane and Co

Andrew Mayes 48 years EH Mack and Son

Terrance Bowman 47 years Broke Brothers Farmers

Colin Stevenson 45 years CR Cawston

Stephen Saunders 44 years RS and AA Lee

Martin Lines 42 years Bernard Matthews Farms

Edwin Blanch 40 years Honing Estate

Philip Briggs 40 years PF Southgate

Glen Clements 40 years Drayton Farms