Former Farmers’ Union of Wales president Hubert Robert Môn Hughes OBE, affectionately known as HRM, died in hospital at Bangor last night (Wednesday, September 16), aged 85.
He is survived by his wife Olive, daughters Ann and Mair and sons Eifion, Bleddyn and Aled. All three sons are farmers and Eifion is a current FUW vice president and chairman of the union’s milk and dairy produce committee.
"I will remember my father for the passion that came out in his voice during his speeches as president - he always hit a nerve. He was also a passionate believer in the Ayreshire cattle breed which he admired for their longevity," said Eifion today.
Current FUW president Gareth Vaughan also remembered HRM for his great passion and the concern he showed for the major issues of the day. "He was a very powerful orator and an effective debater.
"I think history will also prove he was a firm negotiator and would not give an inch when he knew he was right. He was involved with everything to do with Wales and Welshness."
HRM succeeded the late Myrddin Evans as president in 1984 and stood in the post for seven years. Shortly after his election, a Farmers Weekly profile by Robert Davies stated that it would be difficult to find two more contrasting personalities.
"While the Evans style of leadership was laconic and unflappable, Mr Hughes has a justifiable reputation for emotional rhetoric and passionate commitment to causes, a characteristic which often leaves him lost for words, even in his first language of Welsh.
"While some members might regret the passing of urbane diplomacy from the old FUW leader, nobody questions HRM’s absolute honesty and total dedication to the union."
HRM was born at Penrhos, the then family’s 25-acre smalholding at Bodedern, Holyhead, Anglesey. After spending several years as a farm labourer and farm bailiff in Carmarthenshire he returned to Penrhos in 1951 and by 1984 he was running 320 acres with 112 Ayreshires.
In October 1989 HRM led a four-man FUW negotiating team in merger talks with NFU representatives which failed to make any progress after two hours.
According to Welsh journalist Handel Jones’ book A Family Affair on the story of the FUW from 1955 to 1992, HRM stressed after the meeting that the FUW went into the talks with hope and determination to resolve the differences between both unions.
"The negotiations broke down because we failed to reconcile our objective of a fully independent union for the farmers of Wales, working within a federal framework in the UK, and the desire of NFU Headquarters to maintain its jurisdiction over Wales," he added.
"It must be emphasised that the FUW was established in 1955 with the basic and all-important aim of having a fully autonomous union for Welsh farmers with the freedom to produce and pursue the agricultural policies which it considered would be in the best interests of the farmers of Wales.
"There can be no dilution of this all-important principle - there is no half-way house. We have ambition plans for the future."
After being awarded the OBE for services to agriculture in the Queen’s 1987 Birthday Honours List, HRM held several meetings at the beginning of 1990 with banking representatives to discuss the crippling impact of 15 per cent interest rates.
Many farmers who had borrowed heavily in an attempt to increase their efficiency found themselves in dire financial straits. A growing number decided the FUW was best able to represent them during a time of great uncertainty and hardship.
Consequently, the union had enrolled more than 500 new members during the previous 12 months.
HRM was also a local councillor on Anglesey for 27 years. He was chairman of the governors of Bodedern primary and secondary schools, president of Anglesey Show in 1990, a lay preacher in the Baptist Church and was admitted to the gorsedd at the 1987 Porthmadog National Eisteddfod.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Two pictures are attached of HRM Hughes on his own and in a group of five FUW presidents photographed during the union’s 1994 AGM. Seated is the union’s first president Ivor T Davies (1955-58), of Llanfihangel-ar-arth, Carmarthenshire, and standing, from left, are Glyngwyn Roberts (1961-66), of Rhos-goch, Anglesey; Bob Parry (1991-2003), of Bryngwran, Holyhead; T Myrddin Evans (1966-84), of New Inn, Pencader, Carmarthenshire; and HRM Hughes (1984-91).
