Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones facts for kids

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, born on November 7, 1957, is a British businessman and farmer. He is famous for creating "The Black Farmer" food brand. He also ran for a political position in 2010 but did not win. He was honored with an MBE for his work in British farming.

Early Life and Moving to the UK

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones was born in Clarendon, Jamaica. In 1961, when he was young, he moved to the United Kingdom with his family. They made their home in Small Heath, a part of Birmingham. He grew up in a small house with eight brothers and sisters.

Professional Journey and Achievements

Working in Television

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones first worked in the food service industry. Later, he joined a training program that led him to a job at the BBC. He worked on a TV show called Food and Drink. He continued to work in television for 15 years. He was a producer and director for many shows. He also appeared on the web series Carpool in 2010.

A TV show called Cameron's Black Tory was shown in 2010. It followed Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones for four years. The show documented his efforts to become a Member of Parliament.

Becoming a Farmer

His work in television helped him earn enough money to buy a farm. He bought Higher West Kitcham Farm, located between Devon and Cornwall. He still farms there today. Local people helped him learn about farming. They started calling him "The Black Farmer." This nickname inspired him to create his food brand. His brand, "The Black Farmer," sells popular products. These include award-winning sausages, chicken, ham, and sauces.

Danny Clarke, a British gardener, was inspired by Wilfred's success. He started calling himself "The Black Gardener." This helped him become more well-known.

Helping Young Farmers

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones also started "The Black Farmer Scholarship." This program helps young people from different backgrounds. It encourages them to work in farming and rural areas. These areas have not always had many people from ethnic minorities.

This scholarship idea was made into a Channel 4 TV series. The show was called Young Black Farmers. In the series, Wilfred took nine young people from cities. They were from ethnic minority backgrounds. He gave them a scholarship to learn farming on his Devon farm.

In 2020, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones received a special award. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award was for his great service to British farming.

Starting a Business

Before farming, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones also started a marketing company in London. This company focused on promoting food brands. Some of the brands he worked with include Loyd Grossman, Kettle Chips, and Plymouth Gin.

Politics and Family Life

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones tried to become a Member of Parliament. He ran for the Chippenham area in the 2010 general election. He was a candidate for the Conservative Party, but he did not win the election.

He also shared his views on the 2016 EU referendum. He said on the TV show Question Time that he voted for the UK to leave the European Union.

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones is married. He and his wife have a son and a daughter. He also has an adult son from his first marriage.