Malcolm Withnall received the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers triennial Matthew Mack Award “for distinguished achievements for training within the fruit industry” at the Company’s Audit Court Dinner at Butchers’ Hall on May 18, 2006.
Presenting the Award, the company’s Master Will Sibley said: “Experience and success in the fruit-growing industry are always hard won, and to impart them to others so freely and with such enthusiasm and enjoyment is a gift indeed.”
Withnall trained in horticulture at Wye College and Writtle, and then embarked on a 25-year career in commercial fruit growing, initially as assistant manager at Highland Court Farm, then as manager at Frampton Court Farm, Chichester, and then at Saphire Farms, Kent.
Recognising his vocation in education, Malcolm joined Hadlow College as head of Management and Business Studies in 1990, teaching on HND, BSc and specialist fruit courses. He is one of the few lecturers in horticulture to have real commercial farm management experience as a foundation for his teaching.
He is a mainstay of the Checkers Technical and Training Group, writing regular newsletters for over 50 farms in Kent and Sussex, and providing training courses for Checkers Growers and Agricultural Training Board (ATB) students of all aspects of fruit growing, including pruning, picking, storage, supervision and applied management.
Withnall has also produced books on commercial production of Royal Gala and Cox apples.
