A DEDICATED Christian and well-known farmer who lived near Cirencester, who has been described as 'a colossus of the community', recently died at the age of 91.
Friends and family have said Malcolm Whitaker will be remembered for reciting Shakespeare in his tractor, for always wanting to help others and for his 'crushing handshake'.
Malcolm lived and farmed at Harcombe Farm in Syde, near Cirencester, all his working life, much of it in a partnership with his brother John.
He was born in Lancashire but moved to the Cotswolds at four years old with his large family.
The Whitakers were staunch Methodists and worshipped at the tiny chapel at North Cerney.
Christianity and his family were the most important things in Malcolm’s life.
Aileen Anderson, one of the churchwardens at Cirencester Parish Church and an old friend of Malcolm's, described him as "a colossus of the community".
He attended Cirencester Grammar School but left aged 14 to milk cows on his father’s farm.
Although Malcolm struggled at school with a severe stammer he became immersed in literature, especially with works written by Russian writers.
He would also regularly recite Shakespeare while driving his tractor.
Later in life Malcolm decided to start a literary society which still meets at the farm today.
Harcombe Farm became a happy meeting place for family visitors and numerous friends from all over the world, all of whom would receive a crushing handshake or a bear hug.
Malcolm lived there with his wife Judy and his four children, Joe, Sally, Maggie and Liz.
He managed to overcome his stammer and became a popular after-dinner speaker in the farming community.
The farmer served a term as chairman of Cirencester National Farmers’ Union and later became county chairman of Gloucestershire NFU where he quickly realised how much farming had changed over the years.
The introduction of modern machinery meant that fewer people worked on farms and consequentially farmers often felt lonely.
Malcolm saw many of his friends become victims of depression, and saw some take their own lives.
This prompted Malcolm to recruit eight fellow farmers and set up Gloucestershire Farming Friends, which still attains the slogan "We do what a neighbour would do”.
The organisation received huge publicity and still flourishes today, with more groups established all over the country.
Christopher Peachey, one of the original members of the Gloucestershire Farming Friends, described Malcolm as "a thoroughly non PC and very tactile man with a fierce handshake and a bosom-crushing embrace, who encompassed a rock strong Christian faith borne out by his actions every day.
"He changed many peoples lives for the better and enriched the lives of all who met him."
Soon after setting up the organisation Judy died of a heart attack aged 56 leaving Malcolm and his family devastated.
In these desolate times they were supported by their wider family and their many friends and Malcolm’s Christian faith sustained him.
He later married fellow Lancastrian Di with whom he spent nearly 30 happy years with.
Malcolm enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow up and was elated that he was present for the birth of his great granddaughter Leela.
Di said: "The Farming Friends continues to flourish and the literary society is entering its fifty-sixth year.
"Not a bad record for a stammering lad who left school without a qualification to his name.
"But most important of all, Malcolm was truly a good Samaritan, he never passed by on the other side.
"His faith, family and friends were the most important influences of his life."
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