Double Celebration for Master Cheesemakers Tony and Brian at World Showcase

Head Cheesemaker Tony Rickett and General Manager Brian Gresty, who have 72 years experience between them, were this week each celebrating a personal “double” following their firm’s sweeping success at the Nantwich International Cheese Show.

Award-winning Belton Cheese at Whitchurch on the Cheshire border, chalked up its biggest-ever tally of 10 gold, four silver and five bronze certificates at what is the world’s premier industry showcase.

But for Tony and Brian there were also two career “milestones” to celebrate.

Tony, who joined Belton Cheese as a teenager, completed 30 years service for the company and to mark the occasion, Managing Director Justin Beckett presented him with an engraved tankard and a cheque.

“I was just 14 when I started part time work in my school holidays and at weekends and two years later I was offered a full time job. Believe or not I had originally planned to join the RAF,” he said.

“I am really chuffed and extremely proud to have played a part in our success at this year’s show. It has been a really special week.”

Tony, now 46, is a well-known figure in his home town of Whitchurch having, in his younger days, played for both the local rugby union and football teams. “Now I enjoy watching them,” he said.

For Brian there was a crystal decanter – winning the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award at the show for his 42 years service to the cheese industry. It was presented to him by Bradbury and Son from Buxton, one of the major cheese wholesalers and show sponsors.

“It is a great privilege and honour to have received this recognition from my own industry. It has put the top hat on my career,” he said.

Brian, who lives over the border in Wales in Bangor-on-Dee, made his first cheese – A Cheshire cheese – when he was a student at the Wem Creamery in Shropshire. “I enjoy eating a good cheese as much today as I ever did but I think Cheshire is still my favourite,” he said.

This year’s show attracted 2,270 cheeses from all over the world with each entry sampled by the 90 professional judges in more than 100 categories.

“It is the biggest event of its kind in the world and our success has been largely due to the experience and knowledge of these two master cheesemakers,” said Mr Beckett, whose father and grandfather ran the business before him.

“It was especially gratifying to have been able to showcase traditional, quality, prize-winning cheeses in the area of Cheshire where our milk is produced by the local / farmers. This has been the culmination of many years of hard work.”

The two day show at Dorfold Park Hall also provided a venue for the launch of the firm’s new Belton Farm brand now available from leading supermarkets throughout the country and to unveil its new website – www.beltoncheese.co.uk – making it possible for customers to buy the full range of cheeses online for the first time.