John Acock, the founder of Fourayes Farm in Sittingbourne, died on December 10 aged 81.
As chairman of Fourayes, John pioneered and revolutionised the processing of Bramley apples for the bakery trade, laying down the strong foundations on which the company has continued to build. Fourayes is now the largest apple processor in the UK.
Thanks to John, Fourayes was the first company in the UK to install the semi-automatic system of peeling along with the first installation of the Atlas Pacific fully automatic system in the UK. These methods are still used throughout the industry today.
John was respected by growers, customers and the wider apple growing community for his expertise, generous character and enthusiasm for life. He provoked such a strong loyalty in staff that many of his employees who joined the business in the early days remained throughout the time that John was chairman.
John began his career in the growing and processing industry after finishing his National Service. He started working on a fruit farm in Brenchley, Kent, with a view to learning everything about the trade. In that same year he became a student at Kent Farm Institute, studying a one-year course in growing hops and fruit and bee keeping.
John’s passion was the orchards that surrounded his living and working environment from 1953 until his retirement to Honiton in Devon in 1994, and his return to the heart of Kent in 2006.
John also worked tirelessly in the local area both before and after his retirement, which included working for Devon Air Ambulance and being the chairman of the Combe Raleigh Parish Meeting for nine years. He was a keen worker in Sittingbourne and South Green Methodist Church for many years.
John will be remembered for his tireless energy and outgoing personality. He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather and leaves behind his wife Doreen, son, two daughters, three granddaughters and three grandsons.
The funeral will be held at noon on Friday, December 19, 2008 at Bobbing Crematorium, Sittingbourne. A warm welcome is extended to all to join the family at the Hilton Hotel, Maidstone after the service.
Donations in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and Kent Cancer Research will be gratefully received. Please send to, R High & Sons, 1 Bayford Road, Sittingbourne, Kent.
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