A FREELANCE writer who dedicated his life to farming has been remembered at a memorial service

Frederick Willis, 85, was a successful and innovative farmer and farm advisor, and prolific freelance writer.

He was born in West Hartlepool and after an education in South Yorkshire studied for a BSc in Agriculture at King's College, Durham.

During the 1960s he took up part-time freelance writing, contributing many articles on farming to a range of publications, including The Times, Farmers Weekly, The Guardian, Punch, The Field, and The Countryman.

For seven years, he wrote a monthly column, Farm Advisors Notebook, for Farm and Country.

For the last 30 years of his life he lived in Aysgarth, in Wensleydale, serving his local Quaker group in various offices. He was buried at the Carperby Quaker burial ground and a memorial service was held at Bainbridge Friends Meeting House on May 29.

He leaves a wife Helen, daughter Jenny Cave-Penney, sons Peter and Jonty Willis, and grandson Joe Willis.