Charles Abel • Committee Members
Expert farming trio Three new committee members bring a wealth of farming experience to the Club ALAN PLUMB, from a Norfolk farming family, has worked as a Chartered Surveyor for 40 years, advising landowners in farm and estate management, agency and valuation, and for the past 20 years rural diversification. Based in Milton, near Banbury, Oxfordshire he is an active member of various professional and charitable organisations including the Entertainment and Leisure Forum, the RNLI and the local Wildlife Trust. He is a Director of Savills, Parish Chair and Joint President of his local cricket club.
“ Looking forward to using the Club even more” Alan Plumb, Oxfordshire
He is married to Fay, an amateur musician and full time director of two small businesses, and has two sons, a daughter and three young grandchildren. He is a keen tennis player, golfer, skier, gardener, walker and country sportsman.
TONY BELL manages the family farm, W J Bell & Co, comprising 660 acres at Thorpefield, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Main crops are wheat, oilseed rape, and maize, with land rented out for potatoes and carrots. The past eight years have seen a move to minimum cultivations, and an interest in direct drilling, which together with cover crops is helping improve soil health.
“ Club is a great location for enjoying leisure time in London with friends” Tony Bell, North Yorkshire
10 • The Farmers Club Spring/Summer 2021
Farming follows a 41-year career with Unilever / BOCM PAULS / ForFarmers, latterly as UK Purchasing Director, responsible for the team carrying out raw material buying, feed formulations and logistics. Tony was a Founder Board Member of the Agricultural Industry Confederation (AIC) and is currently a Non-Executive Director of AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Board and a CLA Northern Committee Member.
At the Club Alan sits on the House Sub-Committee, feeling it was time he gave something back after 30 years as a member. Having moved to a London firm he originally joined the Club at the encouragement of his father, John Plumb, then President of Norfolk NFU and subsequently of the Red Poll Cattle Society and a regular attendee of Club events and lectures. More recently Alan and Fay have enjoyed overnight stays to attend Farmers Club and other London events. They plan to use the Club even more as a London base, in the company of like-minded people with a rural outlook and interests, and hope to see it continue to flourish, innovate and educate, whilst providing enjoyable experiences and encounters.
He has been a member of The Farmers Club for eight years, after being introduced to the benefits while attending business meetings in the premises, organised by AIC, and formerly UKASTA. He feels the great thing about the Club is the ability to use its facilities for work, being a great location to be based during the week, but also a great location for enjoying leisure time in London with friends. He currently sits on the Marketing & Communications Sub-Committee. Tony is married to Hilary, with a daughter Sarah, who is also a member of the Club, and a son Simon, who currently lives in Dubai. His main interest is now farming, plus golf, shooting and cycling.
