An award has recognised the extraordinary achievements of an East Anglian leader of the poultry industry, Ted Wright.

He was presented with the British Poultry Council’s distinguished service award for his dynamic role in creating a national contingency plan in event of avian flu.

Anne McIntosh, MP, who is chairman of the environment, food and rural affairs’ select committee, made the presentation at the House of Commons for his leadership of the poultry sector.

As a former chairman of the BPC, he led the industry response to the first major outbreak of the highly-infectious strain of avian flu which struck the industry more than two years ago.

His precise knowledge and also background in the turkey production sector was influential at the most senior levels of policy formation and also the practical veterinary response to the crisis.

Mr Wright, who lives at Foxley, near Dereham, had joined turkey producer Bernard Matthews as quality controller at Great Witchingham in 1965.

During his career, which spanned five decades with Bernard Matthews, he became factory manager and when the company expanded into Hungary in the 1990s, he headed up operations. When he retired in 2004, he was invited to become chairman of the British Poultry Council.

At the Commons, the BPC’s chairman, John Reed, said: “As the industry’s trade association we want to show our appreciation to those people who spend their working lives in the poultry sector, and go above and beyond the usual call of duty.

“We also award scholarships to acknowledge the contribution of the next generation; those who will drive the industry forward in the long-term.”

Earlier this summer, Mr Wright was also made a Freeman of the City of London, in recognition of his role as chairman of Red Tractor Farm Assurance Poultry Sector.

Three years ago, he was made a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Poulterers, which was founded in 1274.