Tributes to Shropshire dairy farmer and writer

Christopher John Hayes was well-known in Shropshire and Staffordshire's farming community, both for his role as the former manager of Weston Park and as an active NFU office holder.

Mr Hayes, who latterly farmed at Blymhill, near Weston-under-Lizard, died on July 11.

Born at Ruswarp, near Whitby, in Yorkshire, Mr Hayes settled in the Midlands after living in Brighton and Somerset.

His son Jeremy said: “His parents, my grandparents, were accomplished musicians and dad was keen on the arts, originally wanting to be an actor, but his first job was at Plumpton Farm Institute, teaching students machine milking.

“From there he moved to Somerset, working for a time, before attending Harper Adams Agricultural College, at Edgmond, in Shropshire, between 1951 and 1953.

“There he began his career as a committee member, becoming president of the students’ union and after leaving was president of the Harper Adams Club for alumni.

“After gaining his college diploma he became farm manager for the late Earl of Bradford, managing Weston Park and the Knoll Farm and the Woodlands Farm, which were organic.

“He became a tenant on the Bradford Estate in Blymhill in 1965 with 165 acres initially. After amalgamation with parts of other holdings the farm grew to 365 acres and a dairy herd was established and 70 cows were moved to the novel rotary parlour in 1972.”

While farming he was an active member of the Shifnal branch of the NFU, and was the Shropshire branch's chairman in 1983.

He was also the county’s representative on NFU Council, the union’s ruling body, attending meetings in London and serving on the tenants’ committee at NFU headquarters.

He served as a magistrate and became a Justice of the Peace on the Cannock bench in 1980 where he served until 1998.

Jeremy Hayes said: “He loved communicating by the written word and contributed to Farming Scene in the Shropshire Star for several years.

“As well as this, he would correspond with MPs and others in authority if he felt strongly about an issue.

“Latterly he held a poetry group at his home – another of his great loves.”

Mr Hayes is survived by his wife Helen, two sons, a daughter, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A cremation service will be held on July 28 at Telford Crematorium at 3pm with a memorial service at 2pm on Saturday 29 July at St Mary’s Church, Blymhill, to celebrate Mr Hayes’ life.

John Harmer, of Kenley, NFU East Shropshire group chairman, said: “Chris was well thought of in the Shropshire farming community, an NFU stalwart and he will be missed.”

Shropshire NFU chairman Andy Pillow, of Upton Magna, added: “Farmers will remember him reporting back to members direct from London where he was NFU Council representative with the late Ben Boot, OBE.

“Chris had a real love of farming, served in a variety of NFU roles and our thoughts and best wishes are with his family at this time.”