The industry is deeply saddened to hear of the peaceful death of Hugh Kelsey at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital in December.
One of Kent’s finest fruit growers, Hugh, who was born in 1930, farmed at Wickhambreaux, near Canterbury, for all of his life. When he started running his family farms in the 1950s, he took on a mixed farming business rearing cattle and sheep, as well as growing a range of fruit crops.
However, it was the production of apples and pears to which he was ultimately drawn. Hugh’s great passion for top-fruit production was boundless, while his growing skills and dedication to his profession were much admired and respected.
As well as giving a great deal of unsung service to the industry, Hugh generously shared his expertise with fellow growers, and was widely recognised for his successes in orchard competitions and for hosting innumerable farm walks. He also judged both sheep and, latterly, soft-fruit classes at the Kent County Show.
Hugh’s fruit production was highly acclaimed within the fruit co-operatives Kentish Garden Growers and East Kent Packers (EKP) Ltd, and he served as a director on both boards.
In 2001, Hugh was greatly honoured to serve as Master of The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers.
Former fellow EKP member and president of the East Kent Fruit Society, David McEwen, said: “Hugh was such an enthusiast, whether playing tennis, sailing or riding his horses... His enduring legacy will be one of courtesy, generosity and kind-heartedness and, of course, his fruit growing was impeccable.”
A gentle and genial man, Hugh was a true ‘countryman’ at heart.
freshinfo’s condolences to his wife Caroline, two sons, one of whom, Paul, continues in fruit growing, and six grandchildren.
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