Jim Bloom
In business, Mr Bloom was one of four founding directors of Cranswick (now a plc) in 1975, serving as chairman between 1991 and 2004. Cranswick was formed by a small group of East Riding of Yorkshire farmers to originally produce pig feed and stemmed from a number of like-minded farmers working collaboratively as the East Riding Quality Bacon Producers group.
Mr Bloom initiated the idea of bed and breakfast pigs - a revolutionary scheme at the time and pre-cursor to all of today's integrated collaborative supply chains.
He held a number of voluntary roles including chairman of Beverley YFC, branch chairman of the NFU, president of the Driffield Agricultural Society and president of the Young Limousin Breeders Club.
A passionate cattle breeder, Mr Bloom was at the forefront of technical breed improvement as well as animal health as a member of the British Limousin Cattle Society. He helped establish the White Rose Group in the 1980s which was instrumental in adopting performance recording and was one of the first farmers to adopt health screening of his cattle through CHeCS (Cattle Health Certification Standards).
Joining the British Limousin Society (BLCS) in 1985, his Scorboro herd became known nationally. He was a BLCS Council Trustee 2005-2013 and was also a director of the charity's trading company, Limousin Solutions from 2009-2016.
Mr Bloom encouraged the BLCS to help establish the British Wagyu Breeders Association (WBA) thought to be the first new UK breed society in 20 years.
His passion for cattle breeding, along with an eye for technical progress and advances in animal health, had a wide influence through the UK cattle industry as a whole, promoting best practice in animal husbandry, performance recording and animal welfare.
All of this through a good-humoured yet determined outlook on life along with his ability to garner support and bring people with him on the journey. His foresight and encouragement will be greatly missed.
