A POPULAR figure in the agricultural community, known for his intelligence and new ideas, has died aged 97.

John (Jock) Hamilton was well connected with the NFU and was a senior executive farm advisory officer at the Ministry for Agricultural Farms and Fisheries, helping farmers in the area.

Mr Hamilton lived in Monarch Drive, Worcester between 1965 and 1983.

His son Robert said: "He helped other farms over the years. He was well known for his intelligence and analytical skills but also he was a very practical person."

"He was very well known and respected throughout the agricultural community. He had a good life. Up until four years ago he has still playing golf and driving his car."

George Wheeler of Purshall Green Farm, Droitwich, said: "He was regional agricultural adviser working in Worcestershire. I got to know him because we farmed in Worcestershire. He wasn't a man for bureaucracy. He would give you some sound advice would help wherever he could in farming matters.

"Possibly the major thing he did was being involved in setting up the syndicate in the county of Worcestershire for silage. It involved three farms working together to make grass into silage. He was helpful in so many other aspects of farming, developing workable new ideas.

"As far as we were concerned, he'd had to retire to soon, I don't think he wanted to. He was one of a line of agricultural advisers of that period. When he retired he eventually moved to North Wales, just by Menai Bridge. Even when he retired he would come back and tour around this part of the country and visit his old friends, farmers that he had advised over the years, and we were always pleased to see him.

I was very thankful for him being around at the time, in the late 60s."

Mr Hamilton had three children, Robert, Elizabeth and Leslie.

He was born on December 1, 1921 and died May 6, 2019. He died peacefully at home in Devon with two of his children.

His funeral is on Wednesday, May 29, at 11.30am at Efford Crematorium in Devon. PL3 6MG.

His family have asked for no flowers, but would appreciate donations to Dementia UK.