Bob Curnick

Bob Curnick, a Wiltshire farmer for more than 50 years, has died aged 96.

Born in Chiseldon in 1920, where his father Arthur was the baker and his mother Elizabeth a former teacher, Bob went to Cirencester grammar school and, on leaving, joined his brother Frank farming on the Marlborough Downs, at Ogbourne Maisey. He lived there for the rest of his life – very nearly 80 years.

Throughout the Second World War they worked on the farm at the same time as serving in the Home Guard.

Mr Curnick bought the land, establishing Maisey Farm, when his brother moved to Sussex. He constructed all the farm buildings, first the milking parlour, barns, farm cottages and then the farm house.

He built up a mixed farm, of different livestock (sheep, a dairy herd, pigs, chicken) as well as arable; later specialising in dairy, beef cattle and, during the 1960s and 1970s, in poultry farming.

He was an active member of farming clubs in the area such as the Rabbit Clearance Society and met his first wife, Jean Sinden, at the Dairy Students. They married in 1946 and had three daughters, Sue, Jilly and Lesley. Jean worked on the farm too and they raised their family together enjoying an annual holiday of one week visiting the seaside resorts of the West Country, and bringing up the girls to enjoy rural pursuits, to appreciate and value the countryside.

Mr Curnick was a keen football fan, supporting Swindon Town for many decades and had a season ticket for some years, taking his daughters to matches from time to time. When Swindon played Arsenal (and beat them) in the Football League Cup final in 1969, Bob went to Wembley to spur his team on. He followed them to Italy in September of that year where they were sadly beaten by Rome.

Jean died in June 1987 and Mr Curnick retired from farming that September, having lost interest in continuing without her.

Later, he started playing golf more regularly and joined Marlborough Golf Club where he met Nora Brown (a former ladies' captain) and they married in 1990. The couple enjoyed more than 26 years of married life together, playing golf, bridge and travelling widely.

Mr Curnick was a great story-teller and had a song for every occasion. His sense of humour was ever-present and his jokes entertained the family for years. He was blessed with a sunny disposition, always looking on the bright side – the glass was always half full.

He will be sadly missed by everyone who was lucky enough to have known him. He is survived by his wife, Nora; daughters, Sue, Jilly and Lesley; step-daughters, Pam and Anne; six grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.