Peter Morris 1936 - 2007

We regret to announce the death in July of Peter Morris, long-serving Chairman of Trustees of Larkrise Community Farm. Peter was instrumental in bringing the Farm from its original status as an adjunct to Larkrise School through to its current well-resourced charitable status in our superb premises. Peter's presence is sorely missed around the farm.

Peter's wife, Jan, writes:

Peter’s life in “about 400 words please” has been a challenge!

He was born in Bolton on 1st January 1936 and duly appeared on the front page of the local paper with other early arrivals!

Age 11 he gained a scholarship and went to Bolton School where he became a keen member of the scout troop eventually gaining King’s Scout status. 1955 found him at Seale Hayne Agricultural College and by the time that Jan arrived in 1956 he was Entertainments Chairman. As such he produced the annual college play, Jan took part, and the rest is history!

Married in 1958 and farming in Surrey, he again found time for Scouting and became Scoutmaster to the 1st Compton Scouts. He also began part-time lecturing at Merrist Wood and discovered both an aptitude and a liking for the job.

In 1964, now with a wife and 2 sons, he moved to Bishop Burton College in the East Riding where the family stayed for the next 14 years. Whilst there he gained a daughter and an M.A.degree and was appointed as an Assistant County Commissioner for Scouts as well as college Vice Principal.

In 1976, two years before moving south, he was awarded a Winston Churchill Scholarship and he and Jan spent 6 weeks in the USA studying animal feed production etc….. a never to be forgotten experience.

The family came to Wiltshire in 1978 when Peter was appointed as Principal of Lackham Agricultural College. I know that I am perhaps biased but, I think that others would agree that, by the time he retired in 1996, Lackham was one of the best of the Land-Based colleges in the country. In 1991 he was proud to be appointed a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society in recognition of his service to the industry. He was always mindful of the bigger picture and for some years he chaired J.T.P. which was an association of European Agricultural Colleges to exchange and share knowledge for the benefit of all. In 1996 he didn't so much retire as swap jobs! He was soon involved with Larkrise Community Farm and the challenge of funding the move to new premises, chairing the Lackham Museum Trust and giving ongoing support to our village in Ghana. He was involved with many organisations over the years but most of all he was a family man, proud of his children and grandchildren, and loved by them all. He was good at story-telling and when told that Grandpa had died, a small voice said ; but who is going to tell us about the wifflepoofs? He will be sadly missed.