Dairy farmer taken on final tractor ride ‘to see his cows’

A dairy farmer who dedicated his life to working with his cows, his family and watching his beloved Stoke City FC, has been given a fitting send-off.

George Brookes died, aged 85, on 31 July and more than 300 friends, well-wishers and family members attended his funeral at St Lawrence’s Church, Bramshall, Staffordshire, on Wednesday 17 August.

Before his burial, George’s coffin was placed on a converted trailer attached to a classic Ford 4000 tractor, lent by a farming neighbour, for one last tour of the cow shed at Lower Loxley Farm, in Uttoxeter.

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His son David, a dairy farmer and NFU Staffordshire county delegate, said his father retired from farming about 15 years ago, but lived nearby and would often ask to be taken to the farm to see the cows he loved so much.

Final journey

“We have just spent a lot of money on a new cubicle building,” David said. “Dad used to get my mother to drive around the building and look at the cows.

“We thought it was only right that his last trip was to go around the shed and look at the cows before he went off to his funeral.”

David said the trailer used to transport his dad was actually an old Bamfords FY4 muck spreader, which had lately been used as an “invaluable tool” as a fencing trailer.

“My dad always joked that he wanted to go to church on a muck spreader, so we took him on one,” he added.

© Family of George Brookes

Second-generation farmer George was born at Chapel farm, Beamhurst on 31 January 1937, the youngest of three brothers.

The family moved to Lower Loxley Farm in 1949, where he developed a lifelong passion for dairy farming.

When his father, Bill, bought cattle at Uttoxeter market on Wednesdays, George would leave school early to help walk them home.

George would also travel to Mold and Ruthin in North Wales to buy cows, but always made sure he was back home for the weekend to watch the football.

“He loved his markets, his cows, his family, and his wider passion was Stoke City. He rarely missed a game. If it wasn’t any of these, he wasn’t interested,” said David.

Last orders

The Butcher’s Arms at Bramshall also played an important part in George’s life. He was renowned for turning up five minutes before closing time to order a pint and then stay another couple of hours with his friends, playing dominos and catching up on the local gossip.

David, who now runs the farm, said his father was also known for his pipe smoking.

© Family of George Brookes

He recalled that on one occasion, when the farm was being cleaned during a foot and mouth outbreak, he accepted some tobacco from the cleaners which turned out to be “wacky baccy” that “knocked him for six”.

David said his father was a “remarkable character” who was “much loved and would be missed by everyone who knew him”.

George and Kath with the extended family © Family of George Brookes

He added: “His death has left a void, particularly for the grandchildren – my children and their cousins.

“They always enjoyed the banter with George, and they will miss that. They thought the world of him.”

George leaves behind his wife Kath, who he met at a junior farming event in Uttoxeter. They married in October 1958 and have four children, 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.