We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Tom Bucknell of Manor Farm, Haddenham on 9th December 2021.
Tom had farmed at Manor Farm since 1956 having moved from Stratfield Saye, Reading where he helped his father who was also a farmer.
At the age of 24 with his new wife, Cecily, he took over the farm from Mr Charles Christian with a dairy of 60 milking cows helped by Harry Green, Ted Green and Frank Williams. Over the years many have worked alongside Tom, the most long-standing being Harry Makepeace who recently retired after 50 years.
Tom served on the Parish Council, was a Trustee of the Haddenham Parochial Charities, was President of Probus and the Village Society and served as a deacon of the Baptist Church.
He spent 65 happy years in Haddenham where he raised three daughters and enjoyed being part of the local community.
His passion was farming and he witnessed many changes through the years from dairy cows and pigs to arable, willow and miscanthus for biomass, and lately wild flower enriched pasture for biodiversity.
In later life he loved to reminisce about life on the farm and various characters he had known in the village.
Tom will be greatly missed by his family, who would like to thank the village that Tom so loved and called home, for their kind words and support at this sad time.
An additional tribute from Sir Roderick Floud, on behalf of Haddenham Village Society:
Tom has been a longstanding member and a former President of Haddenham Village Society.
Tom, who was 89, had been the owner of Manor Farm for 65 years and was well-known to many people in the village, not least for his generosity in providing pathways across his land which have been particularly well-used recently.
Those of us privileged to know him will recall his curiosity, his friendliness and his devotion to his family and to the village in which he spent so much of his life.
We send our condolences to his three daughters, his grandchildren and other members of his family.
