NFYFC is sorry to share the sad news that Olive Clarke OBE, NFYFC Life Vice President and Cumbria FYFC’s Honorary Life Vice President, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family this week.
NFYFC Chair Rosie Bennett said:
"Our thoughts are with Olive’s family and friends and to all the YFC members in Cumbria and throughout the Federation who were fortunate enough to meet her.
“Olive, who was 101, was a remarkable woman, committed to the development of YFC and the industry. She has been a huge part of the Cumbria Federation for nearly nine decades and a pioneer in the industry. She was the first female president of the CLA and the Westmorland County Show – among holding many other roles.
"More recently Olive was awarded the Special Recognition Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Farming Awards, which I was honoured to collect on her behalf. Olive has been an inspiration to me personally and all woman in agriculture, and I am very humbled to have met her during my time in office.
“Olive once said: ‘Young Farmers never change, they just grow older’ – and that was certainly true of Olive. A true inspiration who will be greatly missed.”