Michael Holmes, a former chairman of the NFU’s National Horticulture Executive committee and a passionate advocate for the horticulture sector for more than 40 years, has died at the age of 70.
Michael, who was awarded the OBE in the 2004 New Year’s Honours, passed away on January 2.
His working career started on the large, mainly vegetable-producing family farm on the on the Isle of Axholme north of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. The public life of Michael started after he joined his local Axholme NFU branch in 1964 and represented Lincolnshire.
He served as the Lincolnshire and South Humber delegate on the Central Horticulture Committee from 1978 until 1996, when it was disbanded, and the Horticultural Executive was formed. He chaired the Executive until 2003, when NFU restructuring led to the establishment of the Board for Horticulture
As well as this, Michael was an NFU Council member from 1989 until 2003 and served on the NFU’s Agricultural Wages Board group from 1996 until 2004. He was also a major figure in the horticulture sector in the Lincolnshire and Humber area, chairing and serving on a wide range of NFU committees, and was the NFU’s spokesman on public procurement issues involving the agricultural and horticultural sectors. He also served on the NFU’s legal committee/board from 1994 until the time of his death and did a lot of invaluable work for the NFU’s Legal Assistance Scheme.
Outside the NFU, he was a member of the Horticultural Research International Board and a founder member of the Horticultural Development Council, as well as a director of the Processed Vegetable Growers Association.
Graham Ward, an NFU colleague and friend of Michael for many years said “a massive hole has been left in our industry.
“He spent a massive amount of his own time travelling around the country explaining the merits of the fruit and vegetables in our diet and he promoted the now heralded 5-a-day fruit and vegetable scheme,” he said.
“Michael Holmes was a quiet, likeable but persistently tenacious man often behind the scenes when he wanted to get something done,” said Ray Vale, horticultural journalist and another long-standing friend.
“Nobody ever heard him raise his voice and the public work he gave wholeheartedly on behalf of the industry, outside his own farm work travelling all over of the country, was staggering.”
NFU horticulture board chairman Richard Hirst said: “Michael’s contribution to the horticulture sector was enormous and he did much to help improve the situation of growers on a regional and national level. He was a great advocate for the sector and he will be greatly missed.”
He leaves a wife, Jackie, and three sons Michael, Mark and Nick.
The funeral will take place on Friday January 18, at 12 mid-day at Owston Ferry church, near Doncaster. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu are to be shared between Weston Park Cancer Care and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice. Please send donations c/o Fields Funeral Service, Nethergate, Westwoodside, Doncaster, DN9 2DR, tel: 01427 874424.
