Farming’s ‘greatest ever advocate’ Henry Plumb dies aged 97

Lord Plumb © Lord Plumb Foundation

Tributes are pouring in for farming stalwart Lord Henry Plumb of Coleshill, who has died aged 97.

Born in 1925, Lord Plumb had one of the most impressive careers in British agriculture – despite being forced to leave school at 15.

See also: Lifetime Achievement Award for Henry Plumb

A past president of the NFU (1970-79), he went on to pursue a career in politics and became the only British president of the European Parliament (1987-89).

Paying tribute to her predecessor, NFU president Minette Batters said: “British farming has lost one of its greatest ever advocates and the NFU has lost its greatest ever president.”

Henry Plumb’s career began in 1940 when he was taken out of school by his father to help on the family farm at Coleshill, Warwickshire, following the outbreak of the Second World War.

The 120ha farm – which Henry took on in his own right when his father died in 1952 – included a 200-cow Ayrshire dairy herd, 70 breeding sows and 40ha of cereals.

During the years that followed, Henry pursued a career in agricultural politics, joining the NFU where he was soon elected to its national council.

In 1964 he was elected NFU vice-president aged 38 – the union’s youngest ever officeholder – before serving as NFU president from 1970-79.

Elected MEP for the Cotswolds in 1979, Henry then went on to become the only Britain to be president of the European Parliament – a post he held until 1989.

Although he retired from politics in 2017, Lord Plumb maintained an active interest in all things farming – including helping youngsters via the Henry Plumb Foundation.

In a statement on social media, the foundation said: “We are saddened by the passing of our founder Lord Henry Plumb.

“A remarkable man and great figure of modern times, his tireless work to improve the fortunes of the industry continued with his foundation into his 97th year.

“A huge life, his vision will continue.”

Lord Plumb was knighted in 1973, made a life peer in 1987 and received a Farmers Weekly Lifetime Achievement award in 2013.

Warwickshire YFC chairman Charlie Beaty described his death as extremely sad news.

“Lord Plumb had a huge impact on British Agriculture, and was a founding member of the Young Farmers’ Club that I have been a proud member of for 14 years,” she said.