An influential former Norfolk chairman of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), who later won agricultural honours across the Channel, has died at his home in France aged 91.
Mike Garrod's leadership of the sugar industry - and later for beet growers in Europe and around the world - was recognised by France’s agriculture minister with the award of the Ordre du Merite Agricole in 2002.
He became chairman of the National Farmers' Union's (NFU's) sugar board in 1982, when beet growers were hit hard by a triple whammy of misfortunes.
Four of 17 factories, including Ely, were shut in 1981; England’s sugar quota was cut by 10pc and the British Sugar Corporation was privatised as the government’s 25pc stake was sold.
His role in reviving the spirits of the home-grown sugar industry and Norfolk’s cornerstone beet crop was crucial in his five years in office.
His influence on sugar policy continued as a board member of Europe’s beet growers, CIBE, in 1980.
He became the first – and only - British president to represent Europe on the world stage from 1983 to 1987.
As secretary between 1991 and 2001, he re-energised the Paris-based World Association of Sugar Beet and Cane Growers, which had been formed in 1980. He organised conferences around the world among his other many duties.
His father Algy Garrod, who was a tenant on 1,150 acres on the Earl of Leicester’s Holkham estate at Manor Farm, Bintree and Beck Hall, Billingford, had been founder chairman of Reepham NFU branch.
After his sudden death in 1954, his oldest son, then 22 years old, took on the farms with his mother and brother.
He rose rapidly through the Norfolk NFU becoming its second youngest chairman, aged 38, in 1970.
In that year, the NFU’s newly-elected president, Henry (now Lord) Plumb urged members to back a national boycott of markets from May 10.
This protest at the government’s annual price review was effective as 250,000 pigs, 50,000 cattle and 200,000 sheep were withheld.
Norwich, then one of the country’s biggest livestock markets sold just a tenth of the usual weekly number. Mr Garrod said Norfolk farmers had been almost 100pc in support. However, the NFU’s boycott was later ruled illegal.
Born on January 4, 1932, at Manor Farm, Bintree, Michael England Garrod was named after his great-grandfather Richard England, a founder of the Norfolk County School at North Elmham.
His parents were Algy William and Dorothy Irene Garrod. His maternal grandparents had a mill at Great Witchingham.
Sent to prep school at Cromer, on the outbreak of the Second World War he and four-year-old brother Brian went by rail, taking two days, to Penrhyndeudaeth Castle, North Wales. They stayed there until the war ended in 1945.
Back home, a year later, he drove a combine for his first full harvest at age 14 and his last one at the age of 75. At Bryanston, Dorset, he excelled at sport and played cricket in the 1st XI and hockey.
One of his first jobs after leaving school in 1949 was to load beet. His father had bought a new "O" type Bedford lorry, which was loaded twice a day.
It was good training for hockey, which he continued to play into his 40s having earlier represented Norfolk.
At the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, he did a two-year course before returning to the family farm.
He married Sally in 1991 and moved to southern France in 2001.
He leaves a widow, daughter Solna and son Ian, brother Brian, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A funeral was held on Saturday, January 6. A memorial service is planned in Norfolk.
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