A service to celebrate the life of Mr Kenneth James Voase, late of Baswick Steer, who died peacefully at Figham House, Beverley, was held in St Mary’s Church, Brandesburton on Friday October 26. He was 92.
The Rev Cannon Chris Simmons officiated, and the organist was Maggie Mossford.
Prior to this, a private funeral service had been held at Octon Crematorium.
The retiring collection was divided between St Mary’s Church and Arthritis Research UK. The following tribute was given by family members:Ken was born in 1920 in the village of North Newbald, the second of four sons to Herbert and Ada who farmed at Red House, three miles out of the village.
His early life was typified by the walk to school every day, through all weathers, sometimes across the fields.
The family moved to High Eske in 1929, Ken then attended St Mary’s School in Beverley, cycling up to Tickton and then catching the bus, often carrying a full can of cream to deliver to a shop in the town on the way.
He left school on his 14th birthday to start work on the farm, where he did all the different jobs on a mixed arable and livestock farm, learning the job from the ground up.
In 1941 the family moved again, this time to Manor Farm, Lissett, but within six months the farm was requisitioned by the Air Ministry for the construction of a bomber base.
As he was in reserved occupation he was unable to join up, although he tried to become a Bevin Boy.
in April 1943 a run down farm at Brandesburton became available to rent, which was when Ken made the move to Baswick Steer. As milk was in short supply during war time he started a small dairy herd and also grew crops on some very wet and dirty land. In 1947 after being joined by his younger brother, John, the Ministry of Agriculture ran a scheme recording milk yields on farms. This is how he met Joan who was working as a milk recorder. They married at Riston Church in 1948. After selling his dairy herd in 1951 he concentrated on arable farming. To improve the farm, drainage became an issue, because of his experience he was asked to sit on the local Internal Drainage Board, serving on the Beverley and North Holderness IDB for many years, nine of these as chairman.
When he moved from Baswick Steer, apart from a few trees around the farmstead, he said there was only one other tree on the farm which was removed when amalgamating fields, since then he had a passion for trees and in the early 1960s planted them in any unoccupied space he could find. Ken, never being a person to do things by half set aside three acres to plant as a wood, which soon became six and is now shown on Ordnance Survey Maps as Ken’s Wood.
Christmas trees were part of the early tree groin and he kindly provided a free one for each of the church, chapel and school for over 30 years.
All through his farming career Ken had been at the forefront of new ideas in agriculture. he was a founder member of both Beverley YFC and Burton Agnes Discussion Group.
Ken never lost his love of interest in country life. The trees that he had planted earlier gave him great satisfaction. In later years he had a great enthusiasm for gardening.
Throughout his life, Ken found time to be a very enthusiastic sportsman, playing football for Leven AFC until he was over 40. Cricket and tennis were his summer sports, he held the position of treasurer in the local cricket, tennis and bowls club for many years. he visited The Club in the Parish Hall, where he played table tennis, snooker and later in his life progressing to dominoes.
Ken lived a remarkable like. he worked hard with ability, determination and foresight. He was generous with his time and affection, an extremely proud father, grandfather and great grandfather.
A truly great man who left a legacy for all to follow.
The family would like, to extend their heartfelt thanks to the District Nurses and the staff of Figham House for all their care and attention over Ken’s period of illness.
Family mourners
Martin & Margo Voase, Alan Voase & Karen Reeson, Heather Voase & Mick Brundenall, Olga Heald, Jackie Voase & Steve Waddy, Nick & Helen Voase, Anna Stevenson (also rep Tom Stevenson), Libby Voase, Ryan Voase & Rachel Davies, Scott Voase, Helice Snowden, Harvey Snowden & Sasha Ruckledge, Thomas, Benji & Edward Voase, Charles Voase, John & Margaret Voase, Jamie & Pam Voase.
Other mourners
Betty & Roger Eeles (also rep Jane Voase), Maureen Voase, Jim Hall, Mrs M Maddox, Mr & Mrs J Rookes, Mr A Chadwick, Sylvia Berry, Mr C Atkinson, Mr & Mrs T Megginson, Mr & Mrs J Deighton, Mr C Atkin, Mr C Buckton, Mr J Wilson, Mr R Charter, Mr J Brown, Mrs D Jackman, Mr A Roe, Mr & Mrs Maxwell, Mr & Mrs M Conner (also rep Mr S Conner), Mr J Byass, Mr & Mrs P Lee, Mr R Lee, Mr D Lee, Mr J Mewburn, Mr & Mrs J butler, Mr B Southwell (also rep Mrs B Southwell), Mr & Mrs D Johnson, Mr & Mrs M Southwell, Mr I White, Mr D Fidling, Mr S Atkinson, Mr R Kirby, Mr T Chappell, Mr T Griffin, Mr D Turner, Mr D Richardson (also rep Mrs D Richardson), Mr & Mrs G Taylor (also rep Mr Harry Taylor), Mr D A Taylor, Mr M Brown, Mrs B Sellars (also Mrs B Richardson & Mr F Richardson), Mr M Atkinson, Mr K Atkinson, Mr & Mrs A Cammish (also rep Lucy Cammish), Mr & Mrs A Duggleby (also rep Mr J Kirkwood & Mrs A Benson), Mr & Mrs C Richardson (also rep Holderness Hunt), Mr David Warnes, Mr R Adams (also rep Mrs R Adams), Mr G Adams, Mr & Mrs L Barnett, Mr B Cook, Mr J Warkup (also rep Mr M Copeland), Mrs P Heald (also rep Mr P Heald), Mr & Mrs M Smith, Mr M Mathison, Mr T Caley, Mr R Shipley, Mr G Isles, Mr M Silversides, Mrs A Copeland (also rep the Copeland family & Mr M Clubley), Mr B Symons (clerk of Beverley & Holderness Internal Drainage Board (also rep Lord Hotham), Mr J Duggleby (Chairman of Beverley & Holderness Internal Drainage Board), Mr C G Kirkwood (also rep Mrs C G Kirkwood), Mr T Etherington, Mrs Thetis Heald, Mr B Atkin, Mr R Hounsfield (also rep Mrs Jean Hounsfield), Mr & Mrs M Deighton, Mr R Deighton, Mr D Shipley, Mr R Crozier, Mr T Elliot (also rep Mr & Mrs S Elliott), Sandra Coates (also rep Jill & Don Robson), Maureen Lonsdale, Jennifer Foster, Mr & Mrs P Atkin, Val Frankish, Mr & Mrs D Jones, Mr & Mrs N Foster (also rep Mr P Foster), Mr & Mrs Tony Reed (also rep Mr M Reed), Mr K Russell, Mr & Mrs J Atkinson, Trish Bullock, Mike Wallis (also rep Sandra Wallis), Mr & Mrs K Wallis, Mr Chris Foster, Sarah Stones (also rep John & William Stones), Mr & Mrs B Etherington, Mr J Fewson (also rep Mrs J Fewson), John Altoft, Mr D Senior (also rep J K Senior & Sons & Jean Senior), Mr & Mrs Nick Dyson (also rep Brandesburton Tennis Club), Mr D Atkinson, Christine Jackson (also rep Marian Smith), Mr D Stead (also rep Sue Stead), Mrs R Rawson (also rep Mr R Rawson), Andrew Beaulah, Helena Anderson (rep Hunsley Beacon Beagles), Steve & Sue Reed, Mrs D White (also rep Mr D White), Murray Todd, Paul Latuis, Paul Arandle, Julia Arksey (also rep Leven Surgery & District Nurses), Jo Harrison.