A CHEESE industry veteran who is said to have Yorkshire Wensleydale running through his veins has been honoured.

Norman McCallum, cheese grader at the Wensleydale Creamery, was awarded the Nantwich Show Cheese Industry Award by the British Cheese Board (BCB) on Tuesday.

Typically, it is awarded to a person who is not in the public eye but who has made their mark on the British cheese industry.

Nigel White, secretary of the BCB, who presented the award at the International Cheese Awards, said: “Norman is well respected and liked by colleagues and customers at The Wensleydale Creamery, but is often one to shy away from the limelight and underestimate the esteem in which he is held by his peers.

“He is truly committed to maintaining and improving quality through process development and researching new methods and techniques, with his team commenting that he has Yorkshire Wensleydale running through his veins.

“We are therefore pleased to highlight what a great ambassador Norman is for the cheese industry and a true inspiration to all of us.” Mr McCallum, who has worked at the Hawes creamery for 30 years, said: “I feel very privileged to have been recognised in this way and that I’ve had the chance to work and develop within an industry that I feel so passionately about.”

He joined the creamery in 1983. When it closed, he briefly moved to Settle Creamery before moving back to Hawes in a middle management role after its management buy-out. He soon moved into the grading area where his keen eye for quality and close relationship with the cheese making team has helped the creamery to grow.

Cheese is a bit of a family affair for Mr McCallum – his wife, Sandra, also works at the Creamery along with her sister, brother and sister-in-law.