Today, lunch with a group of six old friends; all but one Octogenarians!
Organised by the youngest in our midst; still in his seventies, we met at The Woodcock Inn at Iden Green near Benenden in West Kent.
Below: The Woodcock Inn
The Woodcock is a traditional 16th Century Village Inn situated in the heart of Iden Green - Kent within the high weald area of outstanding natural beauty. Almost a year after opening, The Woodcock has encapsulated the old characteristics of the traditional pub with a touch of sophistication in the country! Serving locally sourced fresh, homemade, proper "pub grub". As well as catering for parties and functions of all sizes, from our newly renovated vibrant restaurant, our beautiful garden room and our picturesque beer garden we can cater for all needs.
Alan Wickham initiated our lunch club in early 2025. Alan is an old friend who grew apples and propagated hop plants at his farm near Winchet Hill. Alan is part of the Wickham dynasty of which there are many!
Below: Left to Right. Robin Wickham, Simon van der Slikke, Andrew Burr, Alan Wickham, Simon Day, The English Apple Man and Alan Smith.
Robin Wickham grew apples and soft fruit in Brenchley with his wife Teresa who has led a distinguished career since she and Margaret Charrington founded "The Women's Farmers Union" back in 1979. Teresa then embarked on a high profile career in marketing, working with many of the leading retailers. Teresa was President of The National Fruit Show until 2023.
Simon van der Slikke from a fruit farming family in Holland, ventured to the UK and became an agronomist and was advisor to The English Apple Man when I was growing apples back in the 1970's and 80's.
Andrew Burr another good friend; Andrew grew apples with his wife Alayne at their 'Popes Hall' farm at Sandway, near Lenham in Kent and we spent many a social occasion, 'especially with their great friends Clive and Mary Edmed (sadly no longer with us).
Next to Andrew, Alan Wickham and at the back (right) Simon Day. Simon is the only one I had not met before, but we were soon in full flow with so many 'mutual friends' - Simon used to farm in Marden, and Marden is populated with many faming "Day families" going back to at least the 1700's.
The English Apple Man Having spent my whole life in fruit farming, from a 16 year old straight out of school, I took on the mantle from my father when he passed away 50 years ago. After packing apples for Tesco and Sainsburys via Norman Collett in the 1970's and 80's I sold the farm in 1991 to John Collingwood (who still farms it today with his son Reuben) before joining HGF in 1994 (the largest UK Apple & Pear Cooperative, and in 1996 following the retirement of Hugh Curtiss (the head of the Quality and Technical team, the CEO offered me the role as his replacement. In due course we morphed into Worldwide Fruit Ltd a marketing company whose shareholders were (and still are) 50% Fruition Group UK and 50% Turners & Growers (T&G) i New Zealand. My role with them was Technical Director UK.
My boss was Drew Reynolds Technical Director and the person who named the apple Scifresh a cross between Gala and Braeburn as JAZZ tm.
Click on: Worldwide Fruit Ltd
Alan Smith another long time friend has grown apples on two farms, one at West Pike Fish Farm near Paddock Wood and also at Loddington Farm near Linton (close to Maidstone) his son James manages the farming enterprise and has adopted regenerative farming as a means of restructuring the farm.
Click on: Loddington Farm
Click on: Andrew and Alayne Burr at their 'Popes Hall' farm at Sandway, near Lenham in Kent
Below: Some years ago, at Brenchley Fruit Discussion Group Alan Wickham presented the prestigious Raymond Wickham award to Simon van der Slikke for his outstanding contribution to the fruit industry.
What an enjoyable couple of hours we had, reminiscing about old times we enjoyed over the last half-century! remembering the "very many" great characters we have had the pleasure of working and socialising with; many gone to the great orchard in the sky, but some still with us!
That is all for this week
Take care
The English Apple Man