Farmer who likes to look on the bright side of life

Apr 6 2009 By Karen Dent, The Journal

Questionnaire

What car do you drive?
X Type Jaguar

What's your favourite restaurant?
Tankerville Arms in Wooler

Who or what makes you laugh?
My three sons

What's your favourite book?
Gazza by Paul Gasgoine. Very sad.

What was the last album you bought?
Seasick Steve – "I started out with nothin’ and I still got most of it left"

What's your ideal job, other than the one you've got?
Something in public relations – I can talk to anyone, or television chat show host.

If you had a talking parrot, what's the first thing you would teach it to say?
I'm NOT a pretty boy

What's your greatest fear?
Getting sick, or losing my wife.

What's the best piece of business advice you have ever received?
"Always listen to advice. You don't have to take it. But never think you are above it" – my cousin.

And the worst?
"That’ll never work" – my brother.

What's your poison?
Rosé wine, vodka and coke.

What newspapers do you read, other than The Journal?
Farmers Weekly

How much was your first pay packet and what was it for?
£3.50 per week in office at the quarry.

How do you keep fit?
Just working – it’s an outdoor active life being a farmer.

What's your most irritating habit?
Talking too much

What's your biggest extravagance?
My car.

Which historical or fictional character do you most identify with or admire?
Winston Churchill – he kept going in the face of adversity.

Which four famous people would you most like to dine with?
Barack Obama, Adolf Hitler, John Kennedy and Rod Stewart.

How would you like to be remembered?
Honest and content with a sense of humour.

CV

1973-1974: Kirkley Hall College of Agriculture – City & Guilds in farm management.

1973: Took over tenancy of Abberwick Farm

1986-1992: Took tenancy of Hagg House Farm at Ellington.

1992:  Took tenancy of East Bolton farm and

2002:  Took tenancy of Titlington Hall Farm.

Agricultural contracting business

1995 -1997:  NFU north Northumberland vice chairman

1998-2000:  NFU north Northumberland chairman

1998-2000:  NFU county vice chairman – served on foot and mouth steering group

2001-2004:  NFU county chairman

2004-present:  NFU council delegate for Northumberland

2005: Represented Northumberland farmers at foot-and-mouth enquiry

2001-2008: The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution committee member for Northumberland.