Olive Clarke’s 100th Birthday

May 16, 2022  •  General

On Sunday 15th May, a bright and sunny afternoon, over 100 past and present members of Cumbria YFC gathered at Kendal Cricket Club to celebrate Mrs Olive Clarke’s 100th Birthday.

Organised by Alice Longmire of Lowick YFC, the gathering was an opportunity for young farmers past and present to show their love and respect for the matriarch of Cumbria YFC. Olive began her long association with the organisation in 1938 when she became a young farmer at the age of 16 and has continued to support and play an active role in the decades that have followed.

The guests included present members of Cumbria YFC, as well as former Presidents, Chairmen and supporters of the County. Edward Dungait, Chairman of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (NFYFC) attended to present Olive with her newest accolade; an NFYFC Life Vice President award. This was recently voted for unanimously at the NFYFC Annual General Meeting in April, in recognition of the many decades of service Olive has dedicated to the Young Farmer Movement. Robbie Tuer (Cumbria YFC Chairman) and Alice Longmire (Cumbria YFC Social & Competitions Chairman) proposed Olive for the award at the AGM, and also presented their speeches to Olive and those in attendance on Sunday.

Following the speeches from Robbie and Alice, Olive delivered an extraordinary speech detailing her time in Young Farmers, and experiences growing up in a very different world to that which we live in now. Olive credited Young Farmers for their hard work in times of need, such as during floods and most recently stewarding at the Covid Vaccine clinics. Olive also emphasised the opportunities that Young Farmers has to offer, and that these should be taken up by members. Olive brought her speech to a close by stating that “Young Farmers never change they just grow older”.

After expressing her thanks to all that attended, Olive was presented with a marvellous Birthday cake, made by Mrs Gillian Potts,  Northern District Vice President and enjoyed a hearty rendition of “Happy Birthday” before an Afternoon Tea, and catch up with friends old and new.