Skelmanthorpe farmer Norman Booth at war with siblings over family legacy

Feb 9 2010 by Nick Lavigueur

The decision means he may now have to split up the estate, including ownership of a number of properties on the land.

But it has also left both sides of the dispute with massive legal bills.

Speaking to The Examiner for the first time, Mr Booth said it had all kicked off when his sisters had been advised parts of the farm were worth millions.

He said: “Basically it’s been down to greed.

“They didn’t want any milking cows seven-days-a-week.

“They wanted a share of the land but they never wanted a share of the work.

“They never came to me and said ‘look can we sort it out?’

“I said they could stay in the cottages for lifetime for no rent.

“It could have been sorted, instead it’s cost the best part of £1m.”

And he said now his appeal had failed the only winners were going to be the lawyers.

He said: “The solicitors have spent the estate.

“I shall have to pay [my siblings] out but there will be nothing left for nobody because the fees have to come out of the estate”.