midwales dot com. The views expressed are those of Mick Bates AM, not of the service provider.
Mick came to Montgomeryshire with his wife, Buddug, who is from a local farming family. They have two children - Daniel, who farms and Ruth who works in Public Relations and they are now the proud grandparents of two grandchildren, Seren Calan and Harri. Mick lives in a 17th Century farmhouse deep in the heart of Mid Wales, looking out over the picturesque, untouched Banw Valley. He also farms 200 acres in Llanfair Caereinion, near Welshpool.
Mick was born on 24th September 1947 in Loughborough. He first worked as a science teacher in Barrow-in-Soar - subsequently teaching in Shrewsbury and Market Drayton. In 1977 he left teaching to become a farmer and he has campaigned on behalf of agriculture and rural communities ever since.
In the 1980s Mick began to play a major role in the NFU, rising to the post of NFU County Chairman in 1991. He also became involved in local politics as a Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Dyffryn Banw in 1994, where he instigated a successful community regeneration scheme as Chairman of the Llanfair Town Forum. He was founding Chair of Primestock Producers Cymru, a national farmers cooperative, and also helped to found Montgomeryshire Rural Enterprises.
In 1994 Mick produced and presented a programme for farmers on Radio Maldwyn, and started a scheme for students to visit farms. His election as Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire in 1999 has enabled him to continue working for his community and represent it on a national scale.
Whilst at the Assembly, Mick has worked to produce real results for Montgomeryshire. Most notably he has promoted and secured free school milk for key stage one students in Wales, helped promote the concept of a Welsh Biomass Strategy and helped establish the Small Schools Fund.
On agriculture, Mick's unique concept of Farming Connect, a free business advisory service for farmers, has helped farmers throughout Wales. He campaigned successfully for the creation of an independent appeals panel to resolve subsidy disputes. For the NHS, the Liberal Democrats support the action plans to introduce free eye tests and dental check-ups, whilst recruiting more doctors and nurses.
The environment is a vitally important issue for Mick and he is Chair and founder member of the cross party National Assembly Sustainable Energy Group (NASEG) which continues to grow and gain influence and recognition. The group promotes the development of a clean, green, sustainable energy industry in Wales that will lead the way for Britain and the rest of the world.
From 2007-10 Mick was a member of the Rural Development Sub-Committee and Chair of the Welsh Assembly Sustainability Committee which scrutinises the Welsh Assembly Government on their contribution to the UK carbon reduction targets and their proposals for meeting the 3% reduction targets outlined in the One Wales document. This was a new and exciting role for Mick and he has been delighted to play a part in ensuring Wales develops a low carbon economy for the future.
“My favourite past time is spending time with my family, my wife, children and two beautiful grandchildren who I am blessed to have in my life. I enjoy being at home farming the land, with some Bob Dylan playing in the background and a Wales-England game to look forward to in the evening.”
Bob Dylan
Sports - especially rugby
Farming
Sustainability
Painting
Walking
Folk music
