Former NFU director general dies

The NFU has expressed its sadness following the death of former director general Roy Watson.

Watson was director general from 1979 to 1985 and before that he was the assistant director general from 1973 to 1978. He had also held roles as director of the parliamentary division and the NFU's employment affairs advisor.

Watson, who lived in Essex, was 77 and was made a CBE in 1983. He listed his pastimes as music, military history, golf and gardening. He married twice and had two sons.

NFU policy director Martin Haworth said: “Roy had a long and committed career with the NFU, contributing a great deal to the organisation. We have been greatly saddened to hear this news.”