Lord Plumb – Henry to most Liverymen – died aged 97 on 15 April 2022. One of our pre-eminent Liverymen, his achievements would fill this Newsletter several times over.
It amused him that even though he was the only Briton ever to become President of the European Parliament, he was always known here as President of the NFU. Henry was clothed in June 1974 and served as Master in 2005-6.
Few knew him better than our current Master, who writes:
“Lord Plumb, Henry, and I go back many years, in fact, I have always known him. The Plumbs farmed at Maxstoke, and my mother’s family farmed in the neighbouring village of Shustoke in Warwickshire. Henry often recounted stories of when he and Mum were at Young Farmers together and helping her with the stock judging and public speaking competitions.
It was in the late 80’s that Henry and I became firm friends. I was Chairman of Staffordshire Women’s Farming Union, and I asked Henry if he would be my guest speaker at a dinner I was planning. Any day any time to suit him, as being President of the European Parliament I fully understood that his time was precious! He didn’t hesitate and he flew back from Strasbourg, and
as you would expect, we had a memorable evening. Henry on top form, engaging with the audience and answering their questions. There was no eight-minute speaking rule that evening!Henry’s greatest friend was my beloved godfather Jim Windridge, they had been friends since early school days and the friendship was strong and constant. When Uncle Jim died in 2005, Henry wrote to me and said that Uncle Jim had left very big boots to fill but if he may, he would like to take on the role of my godfather. And so it came to be.
In the past 17 years, Henry and I have shared a special friendship. He has always been there to advise and guide me. It was Henry and Stephen Fell who proposed me for the Livery and when I became a Freeman of the City, Henry was there to take me out to celebrate.
I was so thrilled that Henry managed to make my Installation last year (he was determined to be there) and I was able to pay a special tribute to him.
Thank you, Henry, for all that you have done for me, and for our industry, over the years. For all the lunches, dinners and teas by the fire that we have enjoyed together. The wonderful conversations and your never ending stories of the amazing life that you have lived. You have always been interested in others and had such a profound and positive impact on so many lives. You truly are an inspiration and your legacy lives on. I feel truly blessed to have known you as I did. God bless you.”
This from Past Master Julian Sayers:
“He always had time for young people no matter how busy he was or who else was in the room at an event. In seeking his help, the response always came with a cheerful smile and wisdom that
knew no bounds. Ensuring there was a future for the generations to come within our farming industry was at the heart of so much that he set out to achieve. This is clearly demonstrated by his legacy of The Henry Plumb Foundation which was established with the support of Rosie Carne as one of the Trustees and with Philip Wynn leading on the all-important mentoring programme.A truly inspirational leader who committed his life to the service of the farming community on so many front fronts. Time spent with him was always deeply rewarding and lessons learnt will remain with me for many years to come.”
And from Past Master David Bolton:
“I first met Henry at Wye whilst he was NFU President in 1971, as his son John was an undergraduate then. Henry clothed me as a Liveryman in 2005. He’d sit next to me when I was Chairman of Finance as he said it made him smile. We shared taxis from West Smithfield to the Farmers Club last year. 50 remarkable years. A remarkable man and a pleasure to have known him.”
Current NFU President Minette Batters led tributes from the farming world and described Lord Plumb as,
“A truly remarkable man. British farming has lost one of its greatest ever advocates and the NFU has lost its greatest ever president.”