Reprinted from the Eastern Daily Press. All rights acknowledged.

Edwin Porter

25 January 2008 12:31
 
An award-winning potato grower and a sporting countryman to his Norfolk core, Edwin Porter, has died aged 67 at home on the family's farm.

He transformed the fenland farm around Feltwell into an award-winning venture supplying potatoes to Tesco.

Mr Porter, who farmed about 2,500 acres, ran a highly successful potato-growing venture with a neighbour, Andrew Wortley, of Methwold, for more than 20 years. They won Tesco's grower long service award in February 2007 for the first-class service and quality of produce.

Since 1985, their joint business had grown from a modest 80 acres of potatoes to about 750 acres delivering an ever-increasing range of quality produce including salad potatoes in punnets - delivered on the 'just-in-time' system to Tesco's exacting requirements.

Mr Porter took great pride in the family's farm, which during his grandfather's day was one of the first to grow sugar beet for British Sugar's Wissington sugar factory. He invested in the business, including building reservoirs, as part of his drive to grow top-quality produce.

He was also a keen supporter of the long-term project to revive the fortunes of the stone curlew. Some pairs have nested on the family farm and even raised young in potato crops grown for Tesco.

A keen sportsman, he played hockey for Norwich Exiles and, as retirement beckoned, the former team captain played for the Norfolk Farmers Hockey XI, and eventually he took up golf. A good shot and keen skier, he became a near-fanatical fishing enthusiast even travelling to the remotest parts of the former Soviet Union to try his luck.

He was educated at Old Buckenham and then Gresham's, Holt. A quiet and rather reserved man, he was highly regarded by his many friends and colleagues in the farming and food industry.

Mr Porter was a long-serving member and chairman of the parish council, serving for about 30 years. A private funeral has taken place. He leaves a widow, Judith, a son, Jeremy, and daughter, Charlotte.

A service of thanksgiving will be held on Monday, February 11 (2pm), at St Mary's Church, Feltwell, where donations can made to the Lymphoma Association or to funeral directors, PR Bowers & Son, of Northwold.

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