THE annual dinner of the East Lothian branch of NFU Scotland has been declared a great success.

Farmers from throughout the county came together last Friday evening to toast another eventful year.

Speaking after the dinner, which took place at Haddington’s Maitlandfield House Hotel, the branch chairman Angus Jeffrey told the Courier: “It went very well.

“The food was good, the speakers did what was asked of them and I think people had a good time.

“I dare say there will be the odd bit that was not quite right but all in all the buzz afterwards was that people enjoyed it.”

Speakers on the night were Alan Clarke, chief executive of Quality Meat Scotland, and former English teacher Stuart Robertson, from Dunbar.

Mr Jeffrey, who farms at Biel Grange, near Stenton, said both speakers had gone down well ahead of the dinner, which saw haggis, roast beef and a dark chocolate tart on the menu.

It has been an eventful first year in the role for Mr Jeffrey, who succeeded Willie Thomson, of Wheatrig Farm, near Longniddry, as chairman.

The 62-year-old said: “The year has been quite interesting.

“The dreaded Brexit has meant there has been a lot more to discuss but with no real clarity on what Brexit means.

“We have reached a limbo as far as it is concerned and that is the country as a whole, never mind farmers.

“Everybody is stuck in the same boat and not quite sure how it is going to turn out.”