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John at How Hill
Obituary
A
leader of the country’s agricultural show industry, Norfolk born and raised
John Purling, died suddenly at home on Friday last week (April 28) aged 69.
The
former chief executive of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association
implemented major changes in his 18 years at the Costessey showground.
Mr
Purling was a former chairman of the Association of Show and Agricultural
Organisations.
He
was surprised and delighted to be invited to serve as president for the 2018
Aylsham Show in January.
As
the RNAA’s general manager, he began the process to make optimum use of the
375-acre showground and to generate sustainable income from more events
throughout the year.
Running
what he always described as “the country’s best two-day agricultural show” was
a challenge he relished. As reported at the RNAA’s half-yearly council the day
before he died, it now earns a significant six-figure income from non-Royal
Norfolk Show activities.
This
has enabled the charity, established in 1847, to support other sectors - from
the Norfolk Young Farmers’ Clubs to the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust.
When
an emergency RNAA executive was held in late March 2001 during what was to
become the world’s worst epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease, his leadership was
to the fore. At that two-hour meeting, he urged cancellation of the show for
the first time in its 150-year history. It was courageous and, in hindsight,
the right decision.
Under
his leadership, the RNAA was transformed. It forged closer links with its
immediate neighbour, Easton College, funding the new Food, Farming and
Education Service. It was one of many RNAA initiatives, which was to help
Easton & Otley College become a major force again in farming, rural skills
and training.
This
close relationship with former college principal David Lawrence, show president
in 2012, was a fitting end to his final year.
He
promoted agricultural shows – and not just the Royal Norfolk. He said that six
million visitors a year – about one-tenth of the country’s population – visited
532 agricultural shows from the smallest to the big four-day events.
And
as a showman, always with an eye to promote the best in Norfolk, he said that
the county had Britain’s best and biggest two-day show. He had the figures to
prove it. In his first year, 1995, there were a record 105,126 visitors in the
late Earl of Leicester’s presidency.
In
his 18 years at the Norfolk showground, six shows had more than 100,000
visitors, with a record 105,629 gate during the 2006 presidency of Anthony
Duckworth-Chad.
His
appointment as general manager was announced in January 1994 by his first
chairman, Sir Timothy Colman. He succeeded show director Gavin Alston, who
retired in June that year. Chief executive in 1996, he served his second
chairman Henry Cator until 2009 and then finally Sir Nicholas Bacon.
Sir
Nicholas, said: “He was widely respected by his peers in the industry, his
colleagues and the wider agricultural community. His way of getting things done
was with charm and a healthy dose of good humour.”
Mr
Cator, RNAA president in 2009, added: “I was incredibly lucky to have John as
CEO during my time as chairman. Not only was he efficient and good with people,
he was also a man of huge integrity. The RNAA flourished under his direction.”
He
retired in 2012 alongside show manager Sarah de Chair, who stepped down after
12 years. A final grand ring spectacle with the Household Cavalry and parade of
show stewards was staged in their honour.
He
went to Duncan Hall School, Scratby, and then Shuttleworth agricultural college
before a career in the animal feed industry. He joined Ipswich-based Pauls and
latterly Harrison & Crosfield, in the Far East and spent 10 years abroad
including three years in South Africa, four years in Hong Kong and in Papua New
Guinea.
In
1992, he returned to the UK becoming sales director of specialist food
flavourings firm, Edlong Company.
He
was a keen golfer, playing at Bawburgh, just yards from his office. And for 17
years, he was a Norfolk committee member of farming’s charity, the RABI (Royal
Agricultural Benevolent Institution). Sally Mitchell, secretary, said that he
threw himself into fund-raising annual golf days for the charity.
A
non-executive director of the Thursford Spectacular, he was president of the
Strangers’ Club in Norwich in 2015. He enjoyed his year in office, which was an
opportunity to combine hospitality, business and friendship.
He
supported the Emmaus homeless charity, based at Ditchingham.
He
liked music, again playing his grand piano when time allowed at his Witton
home, near Norwich. But he also devoted time to his grandchildren, who loved to
listen to his stories or share his love of shooting and fishing.
He
is survived by his widow, Ena, two sons, Matt and Tom and daughter Catherine
and six grandchildren.
A
private funeral will be followed by a service of thanksgiving at Norwich
Cathedral on Monday, May 15 at 1.30pm.