A farming stalwart who spent many years working as a grain merchant has been honoured by the Suffolk Agricultural Association (SAA).

Phil Marsh, aged 87, of Cotton, near Stowmarket, expressed delight at receiving a special award for services to farming.

He spent many years as a farm merchant - working independently trading in grain and for a period working for general farm traders Brookes of Mistley near Manningtree, covering west Suffolk and east Cambridgeshire.

He was at that time based at Old Newton, near Stowmarket, where he also had a small farm with pigs, cattle and sheep which he kept with son, Richard, before coming out of livestock around 1998/99.

He was unable to attend this year's Suffolk Show so SAA president David Barker visited him at his Cotton home to present the special long service award.

He left the RAF in the 1950s and followed in his father Bernard's footsteps by becoming a grain merchant.

"He purchased grain from farmers and supplied a variety of goods - calling on farmers with his Nissan Patrol towing a trailer loaded with various items mostly for animal health. He called on many mostly small farmers in Mid Suffolk and beyond," said David.

"It is great to recognise some of the unsung heroes of local farming and Phil Marsh is one of those."

The category of special awards was introduced during David Barker's first year as Suffolk Show director in 1994 following a suggestion from Robert Long.

"He said: 'We need as an agricultural association to reward people who have made a significant contribution to farming in Suffolk beyond working on a single farm," said David.

Sarah Maddever of Harlow Agricultural Merchants in Bishop's Stortford, nominated him for the award.

Phil was well known in the farming community, she said. Up until relatively recently he had been buying farm grain, she added. "Latterly I was doing it on his behalf with his customers."

She felt he should be recognised for paying back his farmers for the grain they had sold him and not been paid for after two merchants collapsed owing farmers and merchants.

"I don’t know of anyone else who would have done this then or now - it was at considerable cost to himself," she said.

Phil said of the award: "It made me feel worthwhile."

He liked working with people, he added. "I made many friends," he said.

Son Richard said his father was "highly respected" and well-known in the industry.