The social network that’s still a perfect match

It is 60 years since the Brandesburton Young Farmers Club in the East Riding was formed and membership and leaders are in the mood for a party which will be held at Bridlington Spa in November.

Brandesburton YFC isn’t as old as some in the county, as their first ever chairman, retired farmer and octogenarian, Geoff Kirkwood explains:

“Originally in this area there were just two clubs – Driffield and Beverley. I was a member at Driffield first.

“Then Skirlaugh started a club, which was closer to home so I joined that. Brandesburton started next and since that was closest to home I became one of the founder members and the first chairman, although I heard recently from a fellow member who reckons he was.’

“The age group that attended was mainly from 17-25.

“There weren’t that many young people going on to university in the 50s and Bishop Burton College didn’t start until 1954 (as Bishop Burton Farm Institute), so we didn’t lose many from the club and it grew remarkably quickly.”

“Foreign exchange visits were popular and I was fortunate enough to take part on two, both to Scandinavia.

“The first was to stay on a mixed farm in Sweden and the second was more of a tour of Finland. I found their systems were still a few years behind us. They were still using horses, making stooks and hadn’t yet seen a combine.

“These were the times when there were far more people working in farming. We had six men on 324 acres. Today that’s just one man. Whilst we had a combine harvester on our farm in 1948 most didn’t. There was no bulk handling, so all the grain was in sacks.

“In those days our club visited a lot of farms during the summer and there were small farms of between 80-100 acres that could make a living. I’m afraid all the small farms are disappearing now. But back then our club thrived and the spirit was tremendous.”

Paul Copeland farms at Mount Ephraim Farm between Brandesburton and Warley Cross. He’s also the current YFC president and is following in the footsteps of his father, Eddie, who passed away earlier this year and who held the post for 10 years.

“I started with Brandesburton YFC in 1973 at 13 years old. We were the number one club at the time in this area with over 80 members. It was probably the last decade when going to university or college after school was only for the few.

“I represented the club at Smithfield in the stockjudging competitions and at public speaking. But it wasn’t all about winning, it was the camaraderie on our regular Tuesday nights followed by a pint in the Dacre Arms and fish and chips from the village chippy.”

“We have also always had a very good balance between male and female membership, right from the start. In the 70s we also had our first-ever female chairman, Christine Jackson (nee Smith) who also became county chairman.

“Farming was on the up and was very exciting. Grain prices had gone from £30 per tonne to £90 in a short space of time. Farmers were producing more and more food and the future looked good.

“I was one of those who left the club when I went to Bishop Burton College.

“The principal at that time was Dennis Hurst and he was keen to ensure that you became a part of the college community so he discouraged going back to your own home club and set up one at the college.”

The YFC movement has long been touted as a “Rural Marriage Introductions Club” and many members have met their partners through being involved at events.

That’s how it worked for Paul.

“Well it certainly applies to me. I met my wife Sue, who was with Patrington YFC, at a Brandesburton YFC dance and we married in 1984.”

Harry Foreman is the current club chairman. At 24 years of age he’s presently dating a girl from Bainton 
YFC, so the introductions agency still seems to be working well.

Where Harry is different from both Geoff and Paul is that he’s not a farmer, although his parents Stephen and Judith were dairy farmers until 10 years ago. They also met through Young Farmers.

Harry now produces ice cream at their Mr Moo’s Ice Cream Parlour on the Holderness coastline.

“It’s a lot nicer to see people’s faces than cows’ backsides. It’s a bit more polite. There are the odd 
times when you miss milking, which I did until I was 14. It sounds weird but having the radio on and milking was fine, until something bad happened.

“So I’m not strictly a farmer’s son any more and I didn’t come into the Young Farmers movement until 2006 when I was 18, which is later than most. Our membership today is around 45 and growing but it’s a bit different to Geoff’s day.”

Back in 1952 the membership was made up totally of young people from farming families. Harry reckons that’s more like 50-50 farming and non-farming families today.

“It’s now more about young people from farms and their friends. I don’t see that as a bad thing. A lot of what is good about young farmers can apply to anybody.

“Public speaking is not solely about young farmers.

“Taking part in events such as that can be good practice if you’re going to be involved in addressing farming meetings, but it’s also good training for anywhere else and it improves your confidence.”

If that’s the case then why not change the name of Young Farmers to something perhaps more appropriate? Rural Youth? It’s an old chestnut that keeps coming back for debate but Harry believes the name doesn’t need changing, nor the attitude.

“It’s as relevant now as it was back in 1952. Everyone knows what a Young Farmer is.

“You hear Young Farmers’ events on Radio 1 with DJs saying they went to a Young Farmers gig last night and instantly you know what a good time it has been.

“We get involved in so 
much in our local communities and abroad.

“I’ve been on three national YFC skiing trips so far when over 450 of us descend on 
one place.

“It’s still a great organisation and going strong.

“We’ve sold more than 100 tickets for our big night at the Spa, but we’d like to 
sell hundreds more and we would love to see everyone who has had any involvement with the club over the 
past 60 years, as well as anyone else from the Young Farmers movement and friends who simply want a great night out.”

Brandesburton big night out

Brandesburton Young Farmers Club Big Diamond Jubilee Celebration Ball will be held at Bridlington Spa, Saturday November 24.

It will be a black tie evening including drinks reception. This will be followed by a three course meal as well as drinking and dancing.

If you are a past or present member or simply want to join in with the celebrations contact Rachael Norman.

Ms Norman can be reached by telephone on either 01377 254319 or 07882 021579.

Tickets are priced at £37.50.