Tribute to Knodishall's Michael Easy who became farmer at 17

From the age of 17, Michael Easy would be up at dawn running his own farm, first at Blythburgh and then at Knodishall, in a career that spanned nearly 50 years.

Farming was in truly Michael’s blood; his grandfather, William, was a threshing contractor, while his father, David, and uncles, Cecil and Cornelius, farmed much of the land around Leiston over the years.

Michael arrived on January 12, 1938, the third of four children born to David and his wife, Margaret, known as Peggy.

Michael began running his first farm when he was just 17. Image: Belinda Ashton (Image: Belinda Ashton)Farming was truly in Michael's blood. Pictured here, driving his combine harvester. Image: Belinda Ashton (Image: Belinda Ashton)

At 16, Michael joined the Merchant Navy. This was one of the only times that Michael had the opportunity to see the world outside of Suffolk, and he quickly became part of events being played out on the world’s stage.

Michael was posted on the British Advocate, which, he would later proudly tell his children, was the first ship into Aden to carry oil out of Iran following a long-running dispute which was finally settled with the Consortium Agreement of 1954.

The following year, Michael returned to Suffolk and took over the tenancy of Church Farm Blythburgh.

At 17, this was an immense responsibility to rest on such young shoulders.

Indeed, when Michael was called up for National Service, the authorities did not initially believe that such a young man could be running his own farm, and Michael had to prove that as a farmer,  which exempt him from service.

Work was not always easy, and Michael remembered milking his cows by lamplight, this being before electricity had been installed. However, he loved farming, and never considered another career.

Around this time, Michael met Judith Hawkes, known as Judy, who ran the village shop together with her parents and twin sister.

The couple tied the knot on December 3, 1958, and would go on to celebrate 65 years of marriage.

Michael and Judith Easy on their wedding day in 1958. Image: Belinda Ashton (Image: Belinda Ashton)Michael ran farms at Blythburgh and Knodishall over the course of his 48-year career. Image: Belinda Ashton (Image: Belinda Ashton)

Their eldest daughter, Belinda, arrived the following year.

Growing up on a farm, Belinda saw first hand how hard her father worked, for he did almost all the work himself.

On Saturdays, a few boys from the villages would come and help – which is how she came to meet her husband, Robert Ashton.

At Blythburgh, Michael had fields on either side of the A12, and would herd his cows across the road twice a day, with a young Belinda sometimes being called to lend a hand.

“There was a lot less traffic in those days!” she laughed.

In 1965, the family moved to a larger farm, Cherry Tree Farm in Knodishall, where Michael and Judy welcomed their second daughter, Rebecca, in 1971.

Over the years, Michael formed many connections with people who remember his kindness and the way that he would go out of his way to help others.

Michael pictured enjoying the sunshine in Orford. Image: Belinda Ashton (Image: Belinda Ashton)Michael Easy pictured with his siblings. L-R: His elder brother John Easy, his elder sister June Linsell, his younger sister Mary French, with Michael on the right. Image: Belinda Ashton (Image: Belinda Ashton)Michael pictured with his wife Judith and their two daughters, Rebecca Easy (left) and Belinda Ashton (right). Image: Belinda Ashton (Image: Belinda Ashton)

He also had a wry sense of humour. Looking back through old milk records, Belinda was amused to discover that Michael had named a cow after his mother-in-law.

Another cow was funded by a family friend – on the condition that the cow was named after the friend’s wife.

Michael finally retired in 2003, having spent 48 years farming. He was a keen badminton player, and enjoyed playing matches in the evenings, exercising his competitive spirit.

He and Judy had moved to a nearby bungalow – but Michael continued to jeep a tractor, and was always quick to lend a hand to anyone who needed a hedge cut or their grass mown.

Michael Easy died on April 28, aged 86. He is survived by his wife, Judy, his two daughters and five grandchildren.