GORDON Hale, who farmed in Aldbourne for most of his 84 years, has died following a short illness.
Mr Hale, 84, of Lottage Farm, died on March 19 at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon.
He was born in West Street in Aldbourne and was proud that he was a dabchick, the local name for someone born in the village.
Mr Hale, an only child, went to St Michael's village school, leaving at the age of 14 to work on the farm belonging to his aunt Flo Stacey in West Street.
He joined the Army at 17, signing on at Arborfield, near Reading, into the Durham Light Infantry.
Later he transferred to the artillery and saw six years' service in Europe as a radar operator.
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At the end of the Second World War he returned to work on his aunt's farm where he met his wife, Linda, who was in the Land Army.
Mrs Hale died ten years ago.
In the mid-1950s Mr Hale took over his aunt's farm, a council holding, and in 1966 he moved to his father's 90-acre Lottage Farm.
He was a dairy farmer for most of his life and he loved the traditional ways, more interested in horses, carts and vintage machinery than modern vehicles.
His son Adrian said: "He only ever had golden Guernseys and shorthorns,
"He would not milk Friesians, he said it was a cow that did not give milk but only gave water."
He played soccer for Aldbourne in his younger day and was a founder member of the village's Sports and Social Club.
Mr Hale maintained his interest in the farm until his death and his son said: "He never retired."
It was Mr Hale's wish to be taken to his funeral behind his favourite tractor.
His daughter, two sons, grandchildren Gemma, Adam and Natasha and one great grand daughter Chloe, survive him.
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