the Bill Chapman cup for mathematics , he decided to study Structural and Civil Engineering at Leeds University . Although he was very fond of farming from his upbringing , he realised the farm run by his grandfather and great uncle couldn ’ t sustain him as well .

Whilst studying for his degree , life was to change considerably following a tragic incident . December 2011 , Daniel was in his first term at Leeds , when Grandfather Raymond suffered a fatal accident . He was leaving the house early as normal about 7 am on December 17th ; he only got as far as the main drive when he slipped on black ice , suffering a massive subdural haematoma . A neighbour , Anthony

Westerby , found him some 30 minutes later , alerted wife Barbara , they covered him in a blanket , salting the driveway so the ambulance could get in . He was rushed into intensive care at Huddersfield where very sadly he died without regaining consciousness on Thursday 22nd , the date of his 49th wedding anniversary .

Barbara was left to step into Raymond ’ s shoes in terms of continuing the joint farming enterprise of R & K Ellis with her brother-in-law Kenneth , who decided he liked being his own boss and preferred to farm on his own , so the jointly held assets were amicably divided , the land already having been apportioned from the earlier dissolution of W Ellis & Sons .

This left Barbara with farmland and little else , so Daniel stepped up and into the breach to help his grandma , who backed him with her assets whilst allowing him to run the farm on a parttime basis as he was only in his first term at university and had signed up for a four year course . In this way the farm was pared back to basics with three in-calf heifers being the only stock brought into the business from R & K Ellis . Dan left home early in the mornings to catch the train in Mirfield , so any farm deliveries of protein or minerals had to come at

Continued on page 62

Humbleton Park , Darlington , Co Durham , DL2 2XX

Tel : 01325 464529 Fax : 01325 384282

AUCTIONEER , LIVESTOCK AGENTS & VALUERS

Agricultural , Tax & Compensation Claim Valuations Undertaken

Every Monday - Weekly Sales of Store Cattle & Sheep Every Thursday - Weekly Sales of Prime Cattle & Sheep

Scott Ferrie ( Storestock Manager / Director ) scott @ dfam . co . uk 07557 260 653

Paul Gentry ( Primestock Manager / Director ) paul @ dfam . co . uk 07940 330907

Wishing the Wise family of New House Farm continued success

E : info @ dfam . co . uk | www . dfam . co . uk