OBITUARIES
He met Elizabeth at a local dance and two years later they were married . In 1957 , their first child , Gillian arrived , followed by Richard and Rachel in due course . Life on the farm was always busy . Elizabeth gave up nursing to be at home to help and raise the family . Initially , West Moor Farm was a dairy farm and Derek converted the old byre to install a chute parlour which he designed and built himself to speed up the milking process . The hens were moved out of the main house and into purpose built rearing and laying units built with grants available postwar to encourage efficient farming . Pigs were also introduced , and Derek designed and built all the pig units to house them . Gradually he came out of dairy to concentrate his efforts on pigs and poultry .
Outside of farming , his interest in rugby never waned . He was involved in Wensleydale Rugby Club initiating the purchase of church land to secure a permanent site for the clubhouse at Cawkill Park . He went on to become Treasurer and President of the club for several years and latterly enjoyed many a Saturday afternoon sat in the car on the touchline watching the matches .
Semi-retirement beckoned in 1991 , and Derek moved to Mawer ’ s Close in Leyburn . A dedicated family man , he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren . Sadly , Elizabeth passed away in 2012 , but Derek carried on undeterred , finding new activities and friends . He regularly attended services at St Andrews Church , Finghall where he was Treasurer , completing the January 2024 monthly accounts shortly before he died . Derek lived a long , healthy , and full life and ended his days at Mawer ’ s Close , the dream home he had helped design and build .
( Richard Bradley and Rachel Bradley )
Tim Clappison ( 59-69 ) was born in 1951 , the only child of Tom and Mavis Clappison , both teachers by profession . He lived a happy childhood in Cottingham and arrived aged seven to board at Pocklington School , where he stayed until the age of eighteen . Reading Tim ’ s letters to home , it would be fair to say that his true passion was sport ; less so academia . Studying didn ’ t come naturally to him but over the years he developed the dedication and determination to satisfy the requirements of the education system , and it was these traits that saw him carve a life ahead that was so reflective of the unique person he was .
Tim enjoyed all aspects of his sporting life at Pocklington School . He was an accomplished sportsman , particularly as a cricketer and shot putter , but more notably as a rugby player . This was the start of a life-long relationship with the game ; his first leadership role coming about as the back row captain of a notable 1st XV in 1968-69 that remained forever friends .
Tim went on to study Agriculture at Edinburgh , where he continued to make rugby his focus , whilst studying as and when necessary . Tim made his own decisions and was headstrong in making his own path until the very end of his life . During his time in Edinburgh , alongside close and what proved to be life-long friendships , he immersed himself in the freedom of playing rugby and exploring his musical interests .
Tim began a family with his wife Angela at age 24 , welcoming Dan ( 87-94 ), Poppy ( 89-96 ) and Rosie ( 91-98 ) into the world . He began to forge what proved to be a long and successful career as a fieldsman with Birds Eye , whilst at the same time , building a family home and farm which he ran alongside his other commitments . In 1988 , the family moved to Harswell , a unique setting , where Tim continued to live and farm for the rest of his life . Tim ’ s farm was not a job , but a way of life that he would never leave , which instilled something very prominent in the upbringing of not only his children , but so many of their friends also .
After losing Angela at aged 50 , Tim provided relentless and unwavering support for his children , single-handedly supporting them through their adult lives , and proudly welcoming his nine grandchildren into the family . He was often seen on the touchline supporting his grandchildren at Malton RUFC and Driffield RUFC , as well as all their school fixtures , including back at Pocklington School .
Tim retired from Birds Eye after 40 years ’ service and was said to have developed and displayed the traits which became his trademark over the course of his career . His ‘ alternative ’ ways , and ‘ less conventional ’ way of thinking resulted in ideas that influenced how the business moved and improved their operation over the years . Tim ’ s dedication to his role was unwavering .
Tim went on to spend some very happy years with his partner Yvonne , enjoying their shared love of rugby and life in France . Tim rarely missed a Pocklington RUFC fixture , and once his playing career concluded in the mid-nineties , consisting of some 300 appearances , he spent much time behind the scenes at Pocklington supporting the development and management of the club .
Tim ’ s rugby playing career spanned almost five decades , in that time playing for teams including Pocklington School 1st XV , Hull & East Riding , Old Pocklingtonians , Edinburgh University , Scotland Universities , Roundhay , Pocklington , Driffield , York Unicorns and York RI , making an impact in many different ways , both on and off the pitch , forging lifelong friendships along the way .
Tim was proud to support Dan on his own rugby journey , and when Dan went to play at Castres Olympique in 1996 , this led him to forge many new friendships and connections with French rugby ; the start of almost 30 years spent in France watching rugby with friends and visiting with a number of rugby tours from Pocklington .
Through school , university , rugby , farming , music and France , Tim forged friendships of a kind that saw him through his life until his dying day . In his final days Tim requested that we thank all of these friends , from so many different places , over such a long period of time , for their unwavering friendships and for so many good times .
Summing up Tim ’ s life in a few paragraphs is an entirely impossible task . A man that has left a legacy behind him in so many ways and for so many people . It ’ s true to say that life will never be the same without him for so many people ; a remarkable man that we are proud to call our Dad .
Tim passed away peacefully with his family by his side , on 17 July 2024 , aged 73 .
( Tribute by Dan Clappison 87-94 , Poppy Lamb née Clappison , 89-96 , and Rosie Whitfield née Clappison , 91-98 )
Howard Cox ( Former Staff 59-72 ) was born in Bridlington in 1936 ; he remained very much a Yorkshireman through and through . The family relocated to York soon after Howard was born when his father became manager of a busy grocery store in the middle of York . They settled in the village of Bishopthorpe where Howard attended the local primary school .
During the war , his father was called up to join the RAF in 1942 , so Howard and his mother moved back to stay with relatives in Bridlington . Howard was nine when the war ended and after passing the 11 + he proceeded to Nunthorpe Grammar School in York . His reports showed that he excelled in mathematics , and he had an intellectual interest in most subjects and always contributed well to class discussions with his original ideas .
As an avid reader , Howard ’ s passion for learning and discovery was something which he took forward throughout his life . Besides his love of mathematics , his other passions were history , literature , and the arts . He was a keen sportsman especially hockey , playing in the 1st XI . He attended the parish church in Bishopthorpe so he could sing in the choir . He also enjoyed taking part in the musicals at school , and with his fine tenor voice was always welcomed by local choirs throughout his life .
Howard went on to Manchester University to read Mathematics in 1955 . He took on sport as
29