Minette Batters on Henry Plumb
Great Lives
BBC
4.2 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 3 January 2023
⏱️ 28 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"I was born an Englishman but I'll die a European." Those are the words of Henry Plumb, Lord Plumb, a farmer who was President of the National Farmers Union in the 1970s and who became the first British person to be elected President of the European Parliament.
Championing his life is the farmer and current President of the National Farmers Union, Minette Batters. She says that Henry supported her from the outset and that he would offer advice and support wherever it was needed. Minette is joined by Richard Inglewood, Lord Inglewood, who knew Lord Plumb well. They explore Lord Plumb's early life as a farmer in Coleshill, his views on membership of the European Union, and his electoral success as a Member and then President of the European Parliament, which included such perks as involvement in the European Song Contest. Matthew Parris asks Minette about the challenges of balancing her work with the day-to-day demands of farming and what impact Lord Plumb made on British life.
Produced in Bristol by Toby Field.
Image credit: John Cottle/NFU
Correction: Henry Plumb's opponent in the election to become President of the European Parliament in 1987 was Enrique Barón Crespo and not Egon Klepsch.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to introduce myself. |
| 0:03.7 | My name's Stevie Middleton and I'm a BBC Commissioner for a load of sport podcasts. |
| 0:08.4 | I'm lucky to do that at the BBC because I get to work with a leading journalist, experienced |
| 0:12.2 | pundits and the biggest sport stars. |
| 0:14.3 | Together we bring you untold stories and fascinating insights straight from the players' |
| 0:18.5 | mouths. |
| 0:19.5 | But the best thing about doing this at the BBC is our unique access to the sport world. |
| 0:25.0 | What that means is that we can bring you podcasts that create a real connection to |
| 0:28.8 | dedicated sports fans across the UK. |
| 0:31.2 | So if you like this podcast, head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more. |
| 0:35.8 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:41.8 | On your farm, a weekly review of the agricultural scene introduced this week by Anthony Parkin. |
| 0:58.8 | Good morning and I'm introducing on your farm today from just outside the cow shed on Henry Plum's farm at Coles Hill in Warwickshire. |
| 1:06.8 | Now most farmers will know of Henry Plum as the vice president of the National Farmers Union. |
| 1:11.8 | But we've come to Coles Hill today to hear from Henry Plum the farmer and to find out just what's going on on his farm on a Saturday morning, |
| 1:19.8 | which nowadays is about the only day of the week he's here. |
| 1:22.8 | Good morning, Henry. |
| 1:23.8 | Good morning, Tony and welcome on this very pleasant wood Saturday morning. |
| 1:26.8 | How long have you been farming here, Henry? |
| 1:28.8 | I came here with my father as a boy in 1940. |
| 1:31.8 | I was very fortunate and I had a very good father who took me into partnership when I was 18. |
| 1:35.8 | And I took over this farm when he died in 1952. |
... |
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