Farmer, broadcaster, commentator, journalist and businessman, David Richardson OBE FRAgS has died aged 87.
David Richardson OBE FRAgS at the 2025 Norfolk Farming Conference.
In a career spanning 60 years, he was at the forefront of the agricultural industry and described as a “legend” by BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today programme (Thursday, August 21).
His career in broadcasting may have started by chance as he described in his 2016 autobiography, “In at the Deep End; How a young farmer came to cultivate the media,” but he rapidly became a national figure presenting programmes for the BBC.
It was on his 23rd birthday that a green Jaguar driven by Dick Joice, of Anglia TV, came into the yard of his 260-acre tenanted farm at Whiterails, Great Melton. Might he be interested in contributing to Anglia’s Farming Diary programme and a fee of seven guineas (£7.35) for two- or three-hours work? As he said in a July 2016 edition of BBC Radio 4’s On Your Farm, it would treble his weekly income.
After a brief audition in Anglia TV’s Norwich studio, he became a key figure in the Farming Diary team. In 1965, he was on national radio, the Home Service (Radio 4) presenting the first “On Your Farm” programme.
He was a presenter on BBC TV’s Farming programme for many years although later he returned to Anglia TV’s Farming Diary, which finally ended in 1991.
Farming was always central to his life having started as a 10-year-old rearing a few pigs on his father’s farm. Having taken on a tenancy in 1958, he expanded this enterprise rapidly. In the 1960s, he increased sow numbers from 40 to 600, working with his brother Philip to produce bacon pigs on what became a 1,000-acre arable holding.
Always a progressive farmer, he was quick to adapt new techniques including “tramlines” in arable crops in the 1970s.
When the highly-respected Hampshire farmer and newspaper columnist John Cherrington died in 1988, Mr Richardson became a voice for the agricultural industry in the Financial Times for the next 15 years.
He wrote for some 30 years from the 1990s for Farmers Weekly becoming its longest-running columnist. In 2015, he was presented with a FW Lifetime Achievement Award, again a fitting tribute.
In addition, he won the Guild of Agricultural Journalist’s award as communicator of the year on several occasions.
It was in 1990, again as he was returning from a speaking engagement in the United States that he was told of an initiative in Germany to encourage “integrated crop management.” He adapted this concept and fashioned a more appealing approach, which was launched at the 1991 Royal Show as LEAF (Link Environment and Farming).
Despite a somewhat sceptical initial reaction from more dyed-in-the-wool section of farmers, under his leadership LEAF became a model for best farming practices.
For 10 years as director, he was at the fore as LEAF also launched Open Farm Sundays and is now a recognisable quality assurance mark.
In 2000, he was made OBE for his services to the agricultural industry and also elected a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies.
Off the farm, he served as a director and then chairman of the buying group, Loddon Farmers. He made no secret of his ambition to forge closer links between fragmented farmer buying groups, which ironically often competed against each other. He threw his weight behind moves to bring Loddon Farmers and Mid-Norfolk Farmers together, which led to the formation of Anglia Farmers in 2003 – now the AF Group.
He was also a director of the Norwich board of Eastern Counties Newspapers (later Archant) and of feed manufacturer Allen & Page.
However, his contribution to Sentry Farming raised the company’s profile through the successful and long-running Sentry Farming conferences. He stood down as a director in September 1999.
His remarkable network of connections brought farming leaders from across the globe to address delegates.
He led numerous farm study trips to every continent over three decades – again which enabled him to meet innovative and progressive farmers. In 2023, he wrote an account of his expeditions, Around the World in Many Ways.
And in many ways, Sentry’s annual conference almost rivalled the longer-established Oxford Farming Conference usually held a month earlier.
His contribution to the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association was immense. He was elected president in 2003 and wrote at the time: “I was even more proud when they invited me to be their president in its 155th year.”
The following year, he was presented with Sir Timothy Colman award for his contribution to promoting food, farming and the countryside.
He became head steward of Press and awards in 1975 and then chairman of the RNAA’s executive in 1992, a role he retained until 2002. His behind the scenes drive revitalised the somewhat staid association as a series of initiatives were launched – including Schools Trails. The first Royal Norfolk Show ball was held in June 1987 and the Norfolk Mardler, a quarterly news magazine for RNAA members had been published the previous month.
Incidentally, in the mid 1960s, he had also founded a select discussion group, the Mardlers, which managed over the years to invite speakers including several Minister of Agriculture.
He had honed his skills in public speaking as a member of Wymondham Young Farmers’ Club. He became chairman of the Norfolk Federation and many years later was appointed its president. In 1977, he presented and produced the Norfolk YFC’s Silver Tribute in the grand ring to mark the Queen’s jubilee.
His wife, Lorna, who also made a significant contribution to the agricultural industry with the Women’s Farmers’ Union. An enthusiastic young farmer, she was the first secretary to Thetford YFC.
She met David, who was chairman of Wymondham YFC and instrumental in the launch of the new club. They married on January 16, 1959. She died on August 25, 2018.
He leaves three children, Andrew, Rob and Fiona, and three grandchildren, Ashley, Angus and Monty.
A memorial service will be held on Friday 14th November. Location: Norfolk Events Centre, Norfolk Showground, Dereham Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR5 0TT
Attendance can be registered HERE
No flowers please, however donations to benefit the Big ‘C’ and RNAA FFDT (TBD) Charities may be given online at www.ivanfisher.co.uk.
Any enquiries to Ivan Fisher Independent Funeral Home: 01603 810022 or ivan@ivanfisher.co.uk
David Robert Richardson August 1937 to August 18, 2025.
The BBC’s Radio 4 obituary programme, Last Word, reported on the life and career of Norfolk farmer, broadcaster and journalist and former RNAA president David Richardson last Friday, August 29, 2025.
Michael Pollitt, honorary archivist, was interviewed for the obituary, which can be heard on BBC Sounds Last Word (August 29).
David Richardson was interviewed by Anna Hill for On Your Farm in July 2016. This 22-minute programme is available on BBC Sounds.
BBC Radio 4 Farming Today, 5.45am, Thursday, August 21, 2025, included a lengthy tribute to the late Mr Richardson.
Obituary prepared by Michael Pollitt, Hon Archivist RNAA.
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