You will have been aware from my last update, that my father passed away peacefully on 18^th February 2024. Having worked with my father for 40 years and building the Becketts Farm business together into what it is today, the past few weeks have been weeks of real reflection. I was privileged to deliver a Eulogy at my father’s funeral, which you can read in full here if you would like.

“To try to sum up Alan Beckett in a few lines is difficult, but words such as wise, generous,  integrity, honesty, trustworthiness and many other superlatives all combine to illustrate that he was a straight man. His opinion measured, and sometimes tactfully delivered. He was a man who could always find the incisive question to be asked, which cut to the crux of the matter and that needed to be answered.  A proper gentleman whose word was his bond.”

I must thank so many people for their kind words, their cards and sympathy during this difficult time. Your thoughts have been a great comfort to myself, my family and the wider team here at Becketts.

Life – as it does – moves on. And the work on the farm stops for nothing. Except maybe rain!! Which is making things extremely difficult. We tried spreading fertiliser the other day, only for the machinery to sink into the field! It really has been very wet.

Our annual Easter event has just been and gone, with spring lambs, chicks hatching and other animals for children to see. It is always such a great event for customers both regular and new to see and experience something that they don’t see day to day! Eggs (and chickens) were the direction that my father took the Becketts business in, during the 1960s. He did always love having chicks hatching here for people to watch. I hope that if you came along and brought children or grandchildren that you had a great time. Some of the ewes and lambs are out grazing in the fields adjacent to our Farm Shop building, so you can enjoy watching them play when you next visit.

My wife keeps taking me on wonderful trips away and we recently had a couple of nights in Venice. We then took the Orient Express to Paris. It was a real experience! In Venice we visited the Murano glass blowing factory. I was lucky to see them create a Ferrari horse right in front of my eyes. It really is the little things that amaze me!

As we move firmly into Spring, I’ll be hoping for drier days ahead. With any luck we will soon be planting the sunflower fields ready for visitors over the summer months.

Until next time.

S.B.