Will Probert, a chartered surveyor and auctioneer at RG and RB Williams has been awarded the Farmers Guardian’s New Auctioneer of the Year title.

Will told the Ross Gazette that he was overwhelmed and hadn’t expected the great accolade.

He still doesn’t know who nominated him for the award, but out of 457 nominations, Will was thrilled to be shortlisted to the final five candidates.

A panel of three judges, and 10,000 votes cast by the general public decided that 24-year-old Will was this year’s New Auctioneer of the Year at the British Farming Awards.

Will started working at the Ross-on-Wye Auction Centre just over a year ago, after he graduated with a 2:1 from Harper Adams University in Shropshire, but he has been connected with the business for several years. “I used to come here on work experience, and during holidays,” he told the Gazette.

He joked that even during term time in uni, he would ‘bunk off’ on some Thursdays, to be able to attend the market, where he sold the store cattle and fat lambs.

Despite taking the occasional Thursday off, Will did very well at university. Mark Simcock, Principal Lecturer in Rural Land Management and Valuation, told the Ross Gazette: "During his time as an undergraduate at Harper Adams University, Will always showed real enthusiasm for his studies, but in particular it was always clear to me that he would eventually pursue a career as a Livestock Auctioneer.

"Will always threw himself in at the deep end here at Harper Adams, being a chairman of the Harper Adams Cymru Society and a member of the shooting club. Following a successful placement year at R.G. & R.B. Williams, where he took to the rostrum, he secured a graduate position with them and returned to the livestock market to help out during his final year studies, illustrating an ability to manage that work/life balance. I wish him every continued success."

Now, at the auctions at RG and RB Williams, Will sells livestock, farm machinery, furniture, farms and even houses.

Outside of his employment, Will still works hard, during mornings, evenings and weekends, on his family’s farm, as he has since he was a young boy. “Dad used to bring me to the markets,” Will said. “I really looked up to the auctioneer.”

He told the Gazette that he thrived on the ring side atmosphere. When he was 15, Will did a work experience placement at an auction centre in Abergavenny, and he went on to take on a Saturday job there.

He then went on to another company, before he began working at RG and RB Williams.

Will went to school at Monmouth Comprehensive School. He left after he completed his GCSEs, but Vaughan Davies, the head teacher, remembers him well. Mr Davies told the Gazette: “Will is a wonderful young man who had a very clear career path at school. I am not surprised by his success.”

Will attended the award ceremony, on Thursday, October 20th at the Chateau Impney Hotel, in Droitwich.

Will told the Gazette that he invited along some of his colleagues, buyers and vendors, to show his appreciation for their support.