Former Shropshire NFU chairman passes away

A highly respected Shropshire farmer and former NFU county chairman has passed away after an illness aged 69.

Benjamin Edward Boot OBE, of Kynnersley House Farm, Kynnersley near Telford, had a long and successful career as a farmer politician and held a number of senior posts.

"Everyone in the family is really proud of all that dad achieved as a farmer, a businessman and in public life - he will be terribly missed," said Ben's son Chris today.

Ben was born in Merseyside and did two years national service in Kenya, Aden and Cyprus before studying agriculture at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he was selected to row for the college's first eight.

He was known as a committed farmer from a very young age with a great love of the countryside and a well-informed believer in the values of country life.

He farmed in Shropshire from 1954, initially with his father, who died in 1961. Outside of farming, he was an avid reader of history and politics and armchair fan of all sports but especially golf, rugby and cricket.

His mischievously dry sense of humour has been mentioned by many of the well-wishers who have been in touch with his family.

Ben Boot joined the NFU in 1960 and was elected Shropshire county chairman in 1969. He then became the Shropshire delegate on the NFU's ruling body, NFU Council, in 1970 and held that post for nearly 20 years.

He also served on the Milk Marketing Board regional committee and was awarded a Nuffield scholarship to visit New Zealand and California in 1975.

Ben became chairman of the NFU's headquarters milk committee for seven years from 1982 and represented UK milk producers in COPA - the European farmers organisation.

He served as chairman of the European Commission Milk Advisory Group from 1985 and was also governor of Harper Adams Agricultural College for 18 years. He was awarded an OBE in 1994 for services to agriculture.

Ben, who died on Saturday, leaves a wife Sally and five children, Christopher, Katie, Penny, Patsy and Alastair.

A funeral service will take place at St Chad's Church, Kynnersley, at noon on August 9 following a private cremation. Family flowers only although donations to the Severn Hospice and St Chad's Fabric Fund are welcome.