Page 13 - Demo

S H O R T H O R N
Dairy
It’s a privilege to have been asked by the family to say a few words about John, or
as me and my sisters used to call him, Uncle John.
JOHN WINNINGTON
To be honest, when I was asked
to write a tribute, so many
different memories went through
my mind, but one of the first
things was that smile. John had
an infectious smile, which always
put you at ease. And it’s that
ability to make people smile and
put them at ease that seems to
have been a key stone of many
people’s memories.
But let’s go back to the
beginning. John was born, raised
and lived all of his working life at
Ranton Hall Farm. Agriculture, but
also Horticulture would prove to
be the areas where he excelled.
When I asked what subject he
enjoyed at school, I’m told,
gardening. In fact, at school in
Eccleshall, John was so trusted
by the teacher to deal with the
garden, that he was sometimes
allowed to miss classes in order
to go and do tasks in the school
gardens. He also must have been
Athletic, because I’m told he won
the Coronation mile in Ranton.
I did check and it was Queen
Elizabeth’s coronation and not
the one a few weeks ago, that
would have been impressive.
At home, whilst it was gardening
at school, John was trusted
with the sheep, and took that
responsibility at an early age,
moving, as he got older, onto all
aspects of the farm. And as he
found his way of doing things,
it was clear that he didn’t mind
being different. When the world
of cattle farming started going
black and white, he decided to
stick with colour, red in fact, with
his shorthorns. He could see the
benefits of the breed and wasn’t
afraid to, if you’ll excuse the pun,
plough his own furrow when it
came to his farm. Also, with his
sheep, when everyone else went
one way, he persisted with his
white-faced sheep, winning the
Easter prize sale a number of
times.
And he had clear plans of what he
wanted to achieve for himself and
his family. From a young age, he
wanted to have a pedigree herd
of Dairy Shorthorns, but based
on what he had seen at other
farms, his father was reluctant,
concerned that focusing on
a pedigree herd for showing
would take the eye off the ball
of the basic work at home. So
that dream took a back seat for
a while, but it never went away.
John knew how to pick out a
good cow. He didn’t shout about
it, he loved going to market,
not just selling, but seeing what
was for sale and picking out
the best for his herd. And when
Stanley and David left school,
he encouraged and supported
them to take the herd forward,
and using those cows that John
had picked out as the basis, they
together developed the pedigree
and noted herd that it is today.
In fact, one of the few pure-bred
herds in the country or even
internationally. John also got to
see David become the President
of the national Dairy Shorthorn
society, which was also a further
achievement for John, from
those early days imagining what
could be.
But, back to gardening, when he
wasn’t farming, of an evening,
John would be found in the
garden, which was his enjoyment,
but also another way of providing
for his family. One family memory
that was shared with he was
Doreen’s pickled Damsons and
a variety of food, all provided by
John, from his garden. Even last
year, he was still growing runner
beans and giving the produce to
his carers. He always wanted to
be outside. And in recent years,
both he and Doreen were keen
members of the Great Bridgeford
Gardeners Guild, one year
winning the cup as best gardener
and, just to prove that it wasn’t all
fruit and vegetables, he was well
known for his excellent sweet peas.
Family was incredibly important
for John, whether it be playing
Father Christmas for the
grandchildren or building a
business and legacy for David,
Stanley and Mary. His dream
moved on, and wasn’t about
just one farm, but two. Having
purchased Ranton Hall as
tenants in 1989, John also
wanted a second farm in order
that both David and Stanley
could move forward with their
own businesses. He took a step
back from the business when
David and Stanley reached their
twenties, acting then more as
an advisor, encouraging them,
letting them make mistakes and
then making sure they learnt
from them. The plan was always
taking shape. In the early 2000’s
Moorend was purchased for
David and Debbie and David tells
me that there was no cheering
or celebrating, but as the gavel
came down, a simple quiet look
of satisfaction came across
John’s face that he’d achieved
what he wanted for his boys.
Because it wasn’t about him, it
never was, it was about what he
was building for his family.
And it was that quiet, stoic
character that reflects another
important aspect of john, and
that’s his faith. John’s faith was
an important, but a quiet one.
When the children were young,
whatever had happened at
milking, Sunday night was chapel
night at Woodseaves or Market
Drayton. He never missed chapel.
But it was also the strong gift of
hospitality that both John and
Doreen shared with so many
people, that really showed their
Christian love to others. I’m sure
far too many of us to mention
today could share instances
where we’ve been invited in by
John and Doreen and treated
to a spread of food and a warm
welcome. I know folks in the
farming industry, just visiting the
farm to do their job, would be
treated to a special welcome at
Ranton Hall and a plate full of
Shorthorn 13