Page 41 - Market Times April 2024

MARKET TIMES • APRIL 2024
Tracey Jones calls it a day after 35 years working for the NMTF
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THIRTY-FIVE years after she joined the NMTF as a fresh-faced secretary, Tracey Jones has retired as PA to the CEO just a few days short of her 60th birthday.
But she has taken up a new role straight away — as trainee greenkeeper for her crown bowls club. “It’s not a paid role,” Tracey said. “But I’ve been told I can drink and eat my body weight in tea, coffee and cream cakes.”
Tracey began working for the federation on July 4 1988, when Ray Toller was General Secretary and Bill Smith was President.
“I had a simple word processor. The girls in the office would type up membership cards and it was a much smaller operation,” she said.
“My first conference was in Blackpool the following
year and my last conference last year was again in Blackpool, which makes me feel I have come full circle,” she said.
When Joe Harrison took over as CEO from the former General Secretary Dave Feeny in 2006, Tracey took on more of a PA role, but she also got involved in many of the federation’s events and initiatives including Making Markets Matter, a series of roadshows to spread the work about the NMTF’s work, and parliamentary receptions. She also helped out at many of the Young Traders Market campaign events across the country.
In retirement she is looking forward to spending more time enjoying hobbies like crown bowls and golf.
“I have worked in an office all these years but now I want to get out and enjoy different things including cycling and something creative,” she said.
Tracey enjoying retirement at Cheltenham Festival last month
Pioneering trader Peter Gott receives Cumbria’s outstanding contribution award
WELL-KNOWN trader, farmer and NMTF board member Peter Gott has received the top accolade in the Cumbria Food Awards 2024.
Peter, elected to the Executive Board in 2019, was one of the founding traders at Borough Market in Southwark, south London.
He was there at the start in 1998 and had
a prominent cheese stall, and his ebullient personality has since made his name known far afield.
More recently he has been heavily involved in the popular farmers market in Kendal, where he started his life as a market trader at the age of 17.
There he sells cheese, bacon, sausages and meat under his Sillfield Farm brand.
At the award ceremony the host, TV presenter, chef and restaurateur Simon Rimmer, described Peter as “a legend and a hero”.
The independent awards, judged by a panel of 15 industry experts, are designed to recognise and celebrate excellence in Cumbria’s hospitality industry.
Peter Gott