Sudden death of Fylde Farmers Club Chairman

John Kellett was a well known farmer and churchman in Wyre and was Chairman of Fylde Farmers Club

His friend Canon Ron Greenall has penned this tribute: “John of Clarkson’s Farm, Park Head Lane, Barnacre, was well known throughout our locality. The news of his sudden death last Wednesday (May 13) was a stunning shock to all of us.

Born at Turner’s Farm in Barnacre in 1945 he attended St. Thomas’School in Garstang when it was still on the old site in Church Street and was amongst the initial intake when Garstang Secondary school was founded on the Elmhurst site.

John has spent all his life in agriculture and farming and serving the local community in Barnacre, Garstang and the surrounding area.

He told many tales about the “Barnacre Boys” as they were known in their youth and teenage years of the fifties and early 1960s.He was amongst other things the Chairman of the Fylde Farmers, Parish Councillor for Barnacre and Bonds, Churchwarden of All Saint’s Church Barnacre for some seventeen years, a past president of Scorton Bowling Club and a past president of the local N.F.U.

He and his late wife Barbara who he married in 1967 were totally committed to the local church and community. Their children, Susan and Stephen, and their grandchildren Matthew and Michael were their other great pride and joy in life.

After Barbara’s death in November 2007 John was determined to keep his promise to her that life and work and helping people would continue as normal, and this he did.

“Brilliant, hard working, straight as a die and a person you could put absolute trust in”. These are just a few of the comments made about John in the last few days. John was coming to the end of his year of chairmanship of Fylde Farmers and took part in their trip to Ireland so recently.

His family, faith, fortitude, friendship, helpfulness and willingness to roll up his sleeves and get stuck into any project and his wonderful understanding spirit will be major factors in the positive way I take the Thanksgiving and John’s Burial at All Saint’s Barnacre on Thursday May 21at ll a.m. The eulogy will be given by two of his oldest friends William Richmond and Peter Woods.”

* Jonathan Cross, secretary of Fylde Farmers Club has written to club members noting with deep regret: “Our Chairman John has passed away after a short spell in hospital. This deeply sad and sudden news will leave a great loss in our club and more importantly in our lives.”