Obituaries

Biggar’s Hereford association

by Clive Davies

Shock, was the experience that moved around the beef cattle world as the news of Donald Biggar’s passing at the end of January 2021 became known. At just 68 years of age, this leading personality of beef cattle breeding died unexpectedly. He was of the lineage of one of the greatest cattle raising families that have been known. Running their grassland farms near Castle Douglas, Donald had progressed from where his forefathers had left things, always with a view of improving the situation and taking-on the challenges presented. Established by Walter Biggar, himself a world respected cattleman, Grange Galloways and Chapelton Beef Shorthorns were joined by a Hereford herd in 1976. Foundation females were selected from leading herds, BC, Crickley, Grafton, Lowesmoor and Ridgeway among them. A succession of half a dozen bulls were imported from Louada Farms of Wib Donaldson, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Louada female herd was highly regarded and the influx of these bulls brought to Britain a concentration of the bloodlines of American, Glen Klippenstein. Undoubtedly, these breeding combinations fast tracked the Chapelton poll Hereford herd to great success. The combinations of animals, the judgement, plans and skills of Donald and his father, James, together with the unquestionable talent of herdsman Robert Grierson, enabled the UK Hereford scene to enjoy some top-class cattle and their use to promote their section of the industry by this highly professional team. Chapleton bulls were in demand and have influenced leading herds throughout the Hereford Cattle Society’s hinterland. Bulls such as Ambassador, Fanfare, Field Marshall, Heritage, Highlander, Juryman, Kinsman, Logic and Merlin plus many others have made their mark. As well as attaining top prices, the Biggars were twice awarded the championship at the breed’s premier sale and twice won the Royal. Their leader in 1988 was Louada 930K Sensation which took the supreme beef breed championship. The champion of 1990 was Louada 856 Voyageur 105W and its son Fanfare stood reserve male champion and went on to win the junior interbreed performance class. Since then Voyageur has produced nearly 700 head of offspring to appear on the breed’s database and so must rate as one of the most utilised bulls within UK Hereford herds. Chapleton Herefords were sold-on in 1999 but it is the case that the project was an unqualified success and has left its mark.

It wasn’t only the cattle breeding element that Donald brought to the breed. His tireless work in supporting breed activity at sales, shows and within the administration of the breed was outstanding. Many have commented since his loss at his method when attending committee meetings. He was in the main quiet, but just at the right time said a few words, usually the last ones spoken and this invariably brought a consensus which carried the day. He was a great professional as a judge in the show ring. Never egotistic but efficient and decisive and was always able to pass on a constructive comment. He served on the Hereford Cattle Society council for many years and was breed president in 1996 during which time the celebrations of 150 years of publication of its herd book were arranged. He had also served as president of the Shorthorn Society, chair of Royal Smithfield Club and chaired QMS, Scotland’s levy body, at a very critical time, in addition to many other appointments. L-R Donald Biggar and Princess Anne at the 1996 Royal Show

Although the Herefords had moved on before the turn of the century, tragedy struck soon afterwards when the family’s livestock were lost during the foot and mouth outbreak of 2001. This included the demise of the world’s oldest Galloway herd, the Grange herd first registered in 1846. But dusting down, Donald showed all of his spirit and reinvested. The farms now run pedigree herds of 80 cows of Beef Shorthorn and Aberdeen Angus. These breeding herds supply the genetics to maintain over 200 head of home-bred commercial cows. The scene is set for future Biggar generations to do their bit. Emma and her family Jamie, Rachael and Duncan will make their mark, but how fortunate the Herefords were to have been part of the story and Donald’s life.

Remembering Richards

by Clive Davies

On 16 April 2021, at the age of 83 years, Herefordshire lost one of its best farmers, innovators and benefactors. Although not born in the county, Clive, during the latter part of his life put his heart and soul into supporting his local and wider communities, and will be greatly missed. Born William Samuel Clive Richards in Walsall, he attended Bishop Vesey Grammar School, Sutton Coldfield and was always grateful for the rounded education that he enjoyed. He qualified as a chartered accountant in Birmingham and spent around 50 years in The City of London. During that time, he formed and took on business ventures that were very successful. At a relatively young age he was appointed as financial director of NM Rothschild and sons. In 1983 he and wife, Sylvia, moved to Lower Hope Farm and Estate, Ullingswick, Herefordshire, and so began their farming career. It was an outstanding farm but was taken to even greater levels by the couple with their sound business acumen. From 1994, innovative fruit growing was undertaken, specialising in cherries for which the estate team have gained national awards. In 1987 the first pedigree Herefords were purchased. Initially a handful of promising beasts were sourced from the Kingsland and Vorn herds to form a show team, then later in the year more foundation stock was added from other such successful herds as Butts, Costhorpe, Dendor, Grafton, Panmure and Windycote. A special relationship was formed with Derek Vaughan of Kingsland whereby the established Canadian-born sire, Gold-Bar Profile 15G 102P RM was made available. The herd’s development was built around his input and subsequently he was awarded the breed’s sire of the year award from 1986 to 1990 inclusively. All of the other major Clive Richards

breed awards were regularly displayed at Lower Hope. Although Clive and his team were strong supporters of the breed at home, two bulls arrived from Canada. Known as Dynasty and Derby, between them from 1989 to 1992, they took most of the breed’s top awards and really established the Lower Hope herd as a major player. They were each judged supreme champion at the National Poll Show and stood Royal champion. In 1991 a successful and extremely wellpresented reduction sale gave fellow breeders the opportunity to share in the genetic base established. The Lower Hope and Marsh Court herds continued to be very supportive of breed activity throughout the nineties, topping the prices at many sales, creating exports, and again won Hereford bull of the year in 1998 and they continue to grace the pastures at Lower Hope. Clive, with Sylvia’s support, will also be long remembered for his unfailing patronage of so many activities and organisations in and around the community. So much of his backing will go without being credited, such was his modesty. His encouragement and advice through many contacts over the difficulties of the past two years or so have been highly praised. The ‘Yellow Book’ National Garden Scheme has benefited through opening the garden that they made from scratch. There was support to the Young Farmers Clubs

movement, Herefordshire Federation having been extremely grateful for the loan of the annual rally site on many occasions. Then the arrival of the lifesized bronze bull in Hereford city centre and support to the magnificent Hereford Cathedral; such projects will be forever grateful for his interest. Most schools in Herefordshire have benefitted from Clive’s interest in education, and locally other projects such as St Michael’s Hospice, The Music Pool, Sea Cadets, and scanners named ‘Clive’ and ‘Sylvia’ in Hereford Hospital. Further afield the charity has supported the education and outreach work of The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Childhood Bone Cancer Research, Cobalt scanners, The Army Benevolent Fund and many others, some overseas such as an orphanage in India.

Clive sometimes stated that, ‘he had made a few bob’, but he was incredibly generous in ensuring that others benefited. This charitable work that commenced in 1986 will now be continued by Sylvia and her fellow trustees through the Clive Richards Foundation in an aim to support education, healthcare, heritage and arts.

Clive’s achievements have not come along without effort but at the right times he knew the benefits of promotion and publicity. When Hereford United were due to play their football game against Tottenham Hotspur, they were refused permission to parade their club mascot Hereford bull, Free Town Kudos, in White Hart Lane. Safety was probably the issue. Together with some helpful individuals and outfits, Clive arranged for herd sire, Free Town Kudos to make a visit to Rutters China Shop in Hereford, to prove the docility of the animal to those who refused him.

However, although having such a busy lifestyle he was a family man and leaves three children and four grandchildren. On 4 January 2018 he was awarded the Knighthood of the Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great, by Pope Francis and in the New Year’s Honours List in 2020 he was made a Commander of the British Empire. Through his actions, support and generosity, Clive has been one of the great people of the Hereford breed, the county and places beyond. We salute the life, work and friendship of Clive Richards.

Looking back on the life of Lady Avon

by Clive Davies

It was announced in November 2021 that The Countess of Avon had passed at 101 years. On many occasions she would accompany her late husband, The Right Honourable, The Earl of Avon KG, MC (Anthony Eden, former prime minister) on Hereford breed duties when he served as breed patron from 1968 until his death in 1976. They ran the Avon herd in Wiltshire from 1961 until the Earl’s health dictated it should be dispersed in 1975. Many memorable cattle were bred and a good number exported. The herd bred the 1971 Royal Champion in the form of Avon Priam, sired by Vern Rooti. The bull had been purchased by the Lewis family of The Haven as a yearling and developed to have a great show ring career. Avon Cassio was used widely through AI following being purchased by Avoncroft Cattle Breeders after top results when involved with a 1966 Harrogate Central Performance Test. Born Anne Clarissa Spencer-Churchill, she was brought up in London before schooling at Hatfield Heath in Essex. Most of her early adult years were spent travelling around Europe studying art. She returned to London from Bucharest just before the commencement of the Second World War. During war time she worked in the foreign office where her future husband was secretary of state from 1940 to 1945, the mid-term of his three such appointments. Post war, Clarissa worked in the film industry and in publishing. Although she had known The Earl of Avon, since she was 16 and had met on many occasions it wasn’t until 1951 that they were wed in a ceremony at Caxton Hall. The wedding reception was held at 10 Downing Street, the residence of her uncle, Winston Churchill. The couple would later occupy that address during Eden’s premiership, 1955 to 1957, this period being politically very difficult which included the climax of the Suez Crisis. Retiring from mainline politics and citing his reason of ill-health, the Edens spent most of their time at Alvediston Manor, near Shaftesbury. The couple enjoyed the rural lifestyle, Lady Avon

the garden and the farm. The Hereford cattle were a satisfying diversion from public life and Lord Avon, supported by Clarissa took great pride in the time of being the cattle society’s patron. It is claimed that she quoted, ‘he was always able to pick out a good animal for stud. They all looked the same to me.’

Looking back at Margi’s life

by Clive Davies

Solemn messages moved around the Welsh border region and further afield in April 2021 at the sudden passing of Margi James of Crossfoot, Clyro, Powys. During her lifetime, Margi had been an effervescent personality within her homeland and beyond and an outstanding advocate of Hereford cattle. Back in 1919, her paternal grandfather, Morgan T Jones established a Hereford herd at Sugwas, near Hereford. It was founded with some top bloodlines and by 1932 had exhibited a home-bred female champion at the English Royal. During the early years of the 1940s a very successful run of prize-winning and top selling bulls came from the herd. Most of these were sired by Vern Quarto, a son of Tarrington Punch. In 1949 Margi was born and throughout her younger years she would have watched the family’s success continue and not least the winning of another Royal female champion in 1955. This was Sugwas Oyster Lassie 5th and when paired with the unbeaten and highly valued, Penatok Crusader, the pair were awarded the Burke Trophy - the first time for the Hereford breed.

Her grandfather’s brother ran the Treworgan herd near Ross-on-Wye and from 1940, her uncle Richard Morgan Jones ran the Rose herd at Clehonger. All were extremely successful and for Margi, growing up, there would be no escape from Hereford cattle talk, action and achievement. This would be not from just one side of her family. Her maternal grandfather was only Harry Griffiths of Tarrington fame, considered the greatest breeder of all time, son of William and father of Geoffrey. What a pedigree. Margi attended Penrhos School, North Margi James

Wales, as did her mother, and then to Hereford Art College followed by time at Queens Secretarial College, London. At all of these places she would become the life and soul of the outfit, refining skills, making friends and influencing with her personality. But, for all of the social life, travel and achievement it was Hereford cattle, farming and rural lifestyle that was in her heart. Margi returned to Herefordshire in the early 1970s and got practically involved in those favoured activities. For the next 20 years or so the Sugwas herd name would be regularly cropping up in the lists of significant cattle. These included Money Moon, the female champion at the 1972 Three Counties Show, its son, Huntsman runner-up at the Royal Show of 1974 and Sugwas Jaguar, the supreme champion at the 1977 Royal. Margi would have long discussions with her father, Geoffrey, about the cows and possible mating choices. In fact, when North American bloodlines were introduced through AI, this would have been an important task. It resulted in more success with a run of Sugwas bulls that were in great demand by fellow breeders. Not least, Sugwas Benjamin, proving to be one of the most successful British-born sires of the breed through the 1990s and beyond. In 1985, Margi married Patrick James and they made their home at Crossfoot, Herefordshire a farm just in Wales overlooking the Wye Valley. The couple set to work, developing a Hereford herd, using many bloodlines derived from Sugwas and often introducing Australian-born sires. Margi’s visits to Australia and the connection with her regular contacts

that had emigrated there, like her uncle Richard and the McIndoe family who had left Scotland in 1988, gave her first hand insights to the successful bloodlines down-under.

A very hard knock came along in 2001 with the loss of her cattle through the foot and mouth control, but Margi and Patrick took on the task to rebuild which was successfully done.

The next generation, Harry and Polly were raised within the great surroundings that Crossfoot offered and the life that it brought. As well as devotion to Hereford cattle and all the other livestock around the farm including horses, lurchers, cats, ducks and chickens, Margi followed music, sport and particularly art. Undoubtedly developed from the talents of Grandfather Griffiths, Margi’s skills with textiles, paint and sculpture were impressive and a lasting tribute.

Margi will be much missed, especially by her family at Crossfoot, including her granddaughter, also brothers, Raymond at Sugwas and Hugh, farming in Shropshire, but clearly by so many other people around the world from whatever previous contact. But, for all of her interests and activities, the one constant and life-long activity has been with the world of Hereford cattle, including her association with cousins Bradstock at Free Town and long-time friend and companion, Barbara Norman at The Leen.

In bereavement, Margi would often advise people that it would result in another star in the sky. Now, there is another bright star, that will be forever twinkling.

The life of Howell Havard

by Clive Davies

Back in April 1944 a bull calf was born at Cwmbrynich Farm, near Sennybridge. This was to be the start of a long association with the Hereford breed for the Havard family. The breeder was William Havard and while he died in 1967, Hereford cattle formed a growing part of the family’s farming activity. By 1955, his son Howell had taken on the near-by Cefnbrynich Farm and with the aid of 15 or so cows from his father’s herd, he established his own. This grew in numbers and achievement over the following half dozen years and beyond.

The bull Cefnbrynich Adventure, born in 1957, was well-celebrated, bringing success to the fledgling herd by taking prizes in world renowned livestock country at the Welsh border shows as a calf. The rising seven month old beast travelling to events in the back of a Morris van. Adventure was used very successfully within the Cefnbrynich herd, producing a succession of prize winners and top selling cattle. Its son Diplomat was reserve champion of the yard at Hereford in October 1960 and Enterprise a top seller the following autumn, realising 500gns and 650gns respectively. Both William and Howell were involved with the British Polled Hereford project. William bred the first of their polls, a bull calf named Havard 3 Beau Geste, born in March 1959, as a fourth generation animal within the programme. The bull was later successfully used by both breeders to develop their herds that grew to more than 10 cows by the mid 60s when Howell had taken control of the cattle. But unlike in many situations, of the poll stock starting to dominate the breeding activity, this did not happen for the Havards, nor many other Hereford breeders in the vicinity, simply because of the marketplace. During the 1950s and 60s many breeding herds used the vaccine Strain 19 to protect their breeding females from abortion due to brucellosis. When the Scandinavian countries became regular buyers into the 1970s, their animal health requirements dictated that stock should not have received the vaccine.

With so many cattle breeders in Breconshire having never used the vaccine, hundreds of females and many bulls were being shipped across the North Sea from the county and surrounding area. This was lucrative business and especially for Howell, regularly dealing with customers from Denmark and Sweden.

For all of Howell’s adult life, he was a great advocate of the Hereford breed and particularly so around his own patch, one of the great strongholds of the white faces and this being the case since the famed Sir David had been born at Newton Farm, Brecon in 1845. Through thick and thin, he was always in touch with the progress being made and very much so into his senior years when like many, he was encouraged by the advancement of the breed in recent times.

As well as achieving much himself, he had judged at the Hereford bull sales in the early 1970s, was a strong supporter of the local agricultural organisations, the Young Farmers Clubs and his community more generally.

At his passing at 93 years the extended family that he leaves have much to be proud of. They are all carrying on good work nurtured from that mould. We can acknowledge the long life, the dedicated work and great success of Howell Havard, the Breconshire man and enthusiastic agriculturalist who created the path that others might follow.