Denzil and his wife, Heather, farm at Fronlas in a challenging environment in the heart of the Preseli Hills. Denzil has served the NFU and NFU Cymru with distinction over several years. He has been both local branch and county chairman and has represented the county on the NFU Cymru LFA Board, where he was elected to the office of vice-chair. He was also a member of the NFU National Hill and Upland Committee for England and Wales.
Advising government
Denzil has also served on the Welsh Government Upland Forum, advising Welsh Government and the Senedd on issues relating to the hills and uplands of Wales. He also represented NFU Cymru Pembrokeshire on the British Wool Marketing Board for several years until his retirement as a board member in 2017.
In an effort to forge a better relationship between food producers and consumers, Denzil had the wisdom and foresight to work in partnership with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and NFU Cymru to open his farm to the public.
Lobbying work
Following the Foot & Mouth disease outbreak of 2001, he lobbied for the re-opening of a livestock market in North Pembrokeshire. He also played his part in ensuring that a new sheep market premises was opened in Crymych, and he continues to support this thriving livestock market to this day.
In his community, Denzil has been a leading light in his local Chapel at Maenclochog, being a deacon and treasurer for over 40 years. He is also a community councillor for the ward of Mynachlogddu/ Llangolman and has held the position of chairman on numerous occasions. Denzil is a member of a group of graziers that are wintering their sheep from the Preseli Hills down on the Castlemartin tank ranges who work in collaboration with the British Army to achieve and enhance the habitat on the ranges.
Family
Denzil and Heather have two grown up daughters who have excelled at university and are now living in Bristol and Cardiff, but both still return home to assist on the family sheep farm during busy times of the year, such as lambing, shearing and dipping.
Jeff Evans, Chairman of the Management Committee of the Idris Davies Memorial Award, said: “Denzil has served the agricultural industry with integrity and commitment, while also serving his local community with compassion and humanity. Most importantly, Denzil promotes the agricultural, economic, social, linguistic and cultural aspects of rural North Pembrokeshire - attributes that the late Idris Davies would have been proud of.”