David Brookes died at the age of 65 earlier this month and was a branch, county and regional officeholder over many years, a dairy sector champion and helped drive the NFU鈥檚 SOS Dairy campaign back in 2012.
The Lower Loxley farmer was a husband, father, and grandfather and was also NFU Staffordshire Council delegate finishing in post earlier this year and was active within Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society.
He also served as NFU Uttoxeter, Abbots Bromley and Burton-upon-Trent branch chairman in 1996 and 2012, was NFU Staffordshire chair for a two-year term and elected as NFU West Midlands regional board chair in 2022.
An Arla supplier he built up his 250-strong herd of Holstein-Friesian cows and improved on farm infrastructure seeing benefits for both cow health and increased milk yields.
David also had a high-profile role on his local authority but stepped down to spend more time on the family dairy farm although he was the serving chairman of Uttoxeter Rural Parish Council at the time of his death.
鈥淒avid really cared about farming people. There was always a warm welcome when he was around and his jokes never failed. He was a good friend and will be deeply missed."
Abi Reader, NFU Cymru Deputy President
'Passionate, staunch advocate'
Farmer Paul Brown, NFU Staffordshire county chair, said: 鈥淲e are absolutely devastated to hear this news.
鈥淒avid was such a staunch advocate and ambassador for the farming industry, particularly on dairy issues.
鈥淗e always wore his heart on this sleeve and was passionate about making sure the industry was properly represented.
鈥淗e was always happy speaking to fellow farmers and shoppers about food production and producing milk.
鈥淒avid gave greatly and his loss will be keenly felt across the farming community and by all those who knew him.
鈥淗e was enjoying time away from his officeholder role as a grandfather and we send our heartfelt thoughts to his wife Brenda and family at this very difficult time.鈥�
Happy to share
David was always happy to share his farming knowledge and experience with others.
He welcomed dairy enthusiasts from across the Midlands to his farm to see the new set up to talk to them about the plans that had been put in place for his dairy herd.
In September, the Brookes family hosted the Uttoxeter Ploughing and Hedgecutting Match and he was also a big supporter of the Staffordshire Show and young farmers.
Philip Atkins, OBE, said: 鈥淏esides being a fellow Uttoxeter and Staffordshire farmer, David was a good friend for many years.
鈥淲e will all have many memories of David, from shearing through to dairy campaigns, to our great rural social life which we all can still enjoy.
鈥淏esides his active work in the NFU and Staffordshire Agricultural Society, David became involved in local politics over 30 years ago.
鈥淒espite David never standing in the ward he lived, he always worked hard to represent the area he was elected for and go that extra mile.
鈥淩ural friendship and camaraderie goes deep and is still there, and with our recent changes and challenges we are all coming together again as one, which is something David would have been heavily involved in."
Philip Atkins OBE
鈥淗e would often stand up and robustly both challenge or defend a position.
鈥淚 know NFU colleagues also witnessed this at first hand, as I did as a fellow borough and county councillor.
鈥淭his is something you only see in someone with real conviction.鈥�
鈥淎 larger-than-life character he will be missed.
鈥淥ur thoughts should be with Brenda and their children Will, Georgina, Charlotte and Vicky and grandson George at this time.鈥�