Father and son receive special award after clocking up 100 years' service at Ford & Etal Estates

Jimmy Mole at Etal Show.
Picture by Jane Coltman — Jimmy Mole at Etal Show. Picture by Jane Coltman

Jimmy and Neil Mole were among 14 farming and forestry employees honoured at a Border Union Agricultural Society (BUAS) luncheon.

They were presented with a joint certificate on behalf of the Joicey family and Ford & Etal Estates.

Jimmy has achieved 58 years’ service whilst his son Neil has achieved 42 years.

Front row L-R; Rev Anna Rodwell, George Anderson, Alexander Thompson, His Grace the Duke of Roxburghe, Alan Henderson, Brian Wilson & Mr William Gray.
Middle row L-R; Mr Ian Fleming, Lord James Joicey, Neil Mole, Neil Edmondson, James Mole & Miss Mags Clark.
Back row L-R; Colin Anderson, Andrew Thoms, Robert Johnstone, William Hill, Brian Hope & George Skeldon. — Front row L-R; Rev Anna Rodwell, George Anderson, Alexander Thompson, His Grace the Duke of Roxburghe, Alan Henderson, Brian Wilson & Mr William Gray. Middle row L-R; Mr Ian Fleming, Lord James Joicey, Neil Mole, Neil Edmondson, James Mole & Miss Mags Clark. Back row L-R; Colin Anderson, Andrew Thoms, Robert Johnstone, William Hill, Brian Hope & George Skeldon.

After a short stint working at Hay Farm, Jimmy became a gardener on the Estate in 1962 and, later, head gardener.

In 2004, Jimmy handed over the reins as head gardener to his son, Neil, – but he didn’t stop working.

Indeed, he continues to work in the gardens to this day, at the grand old age of 81.

Mind you, he declares that ‘he’s never done a day’s work in his life – you can’t call working in the gardens & grounds of Ford & Etal Estates work – it is much too special!’

Like Neil, he was a keen pigeon fancier and racer, but he is perhaps best known across the Borders and north Northumberland as a judge at flower shows and he remains in great demand in this role today.

In 2013 he was awarded the BEM for services to the community in Ford.

Jimmy was awarded a medal by the Royal Horticultural Society for 40 years of service and a further bar on achieving 50 years. At the end of 2019 he completed 57 years working on the Estate.

Neil started work in the gardens at Ford & Etal at the age of 16, in 1978 and the award citation acknowledges the great pride he takes in his work and in the gardens and grounds of Ford & Etal.

Neil Edmondson, also of Ford and Etal Estates, was honoured for his 31 years’ service at the sawmill.

Other Northumberland long-service awards went to George and Colin Anderson of Grindon Farm, near Berwick, who have clocked up 51 and 35 years’ service respectively.

Since 1944 there have been 665 recipients through BUAS.