By Rosie Breakwell • Published on 5th August, 2026
The Royal Bath & West of England Society is delighted to announce Baroness Minette Batters as the new Society President for 2026/27.
Baroness Minette Batters was NFU President from 2018 to 2024 and has been a member of the House of Lords since 2024. Baroness Batters runs her mixed family farm in Wiltshire with a number of diversified enterprises. She has recently published the Government commissioned review on farm profitability which sets out 57 recommendations intended to inform the government’s food strategy, farming roadmap and land use framework.
Baroness Batters took over the annual presidency from William and Alice Fox-Pitt during the Royal Bath & West Society’s Summer Council Meeting and AGM. William thanked the whole team for a fantastic year. The Society and the Show had given so much to so many, and he couldn’t praise the team highly enough. Alice felt very privileged to have been President of the Society leading up to its 250th year and she encouraged everyone to be incredibly proud of the identity of the Society.
Baroness Batters expressed her huge privilege of being invited to take over the Presidency from Alice & William and would do her best in such an important year. She thanked Council and members and was looking forward to working with the team during her year as President.
Baroness Batters commented “I am absolutely delighted to be taking on the presidency of the Royal Bath and West of England Society, particularly in this its 250th year. I am looking forward to celebrating this special year and to attending the Bath & West Show, the Society’s jewel in the crown. The Show is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the importance of farming and the rural economy right across the southwest region.”
The Royal Bath & West Society look forward to welcoming Baroness Batters to her first Society event in October, The Dairy Show, where she will be the guest speaker at the Dairy Industry Dinner.
