TRIBUTES have been paid to a former stalwart of the farming industry described as “a man of great honesty and integrity”, who has died aged 84.

Edward Richardson, of Carmel Road North, Darlington, died at Darlington Memorial Hospital on Friday, May 17, from health problems leading to pneumonia.

A committed Methodist, Mr Richardson was long-standing member of Elm Ridge Methodist Church in Darlington and sang in the choir when work permitted.

He was well-known in the region’s farming circles, having spent his entire working life in agriculture.

His career started as a junior office boy at Spillers Ltd back in 1946 before he moved on to become branch manager for Northern Farmers in Sunderland, then Teesside.

In the mid-sixties Mr Richardson jointly managed Farmway Ltd – the biggest link-up of farming co-operatives since the war.

The company was an amalgamation of Teesside Farmers, Northern Farmers and East Yorkshire Farmers and had an operational area from the Scottish Borders to Humberside.

At the time of Mr Richardson’s retirement in 1989, Farmway Ltd had a turnover of almost £40m.

Mr Richardson’s eldest daughter Anne Hammond described her father as "very determined and committed".

His family said he came from very humble beginnings to achieve what he did, and he had a great respect for the farming community and the determination and resourcefulness shown by farmers.

Mr Richardson was active in the Darlington community both as a member of the town’s Rotary Club, of which he was president in 1992, and of the Darlington Choral Society.

He was also a founding member of Hurworth House Preparatory school in the late 1960s and Chairman of the Governors and Parents’ Association in 1970.

Despite his busy lifestyle, Mr Richardson kept his family, friends and faith at the core of his life.

His youngest daughter Lesley Bornhoft, 47, said: “He was a huge family man; the family were very important to him.

“He loved his family, his friends and had a very strong faith - I think people would remember him as being a man of great honesty and integrity.”

Mr Richardson outlived his wife Nancy by three years and leaves behind his two daughters, Anne and Lesley, a 52-year-old son, Fraser, and five grandchildren.

His funeral will be held at Elm Ridge Methodist Church at 2.15pm on Wednesday (May 29).