ONE of Huddersfield’s longest serving poultry farmers has died.
Philip Whitwam passed away on January 27, aged 82.
Mr Whitwam, of Golcar, left school aged 14 to join his family’s livestock business at Bank Bottom Farm, near Slaithwaite.
Since 1927 the business, originally called Whitwam Brothers, has supplied poultry and eggs to butchers, farm shops and eateries within a 20-mile radius of Huddersfield.
Mr Whitwam, a longstanding member of the National Farmers’ Union and the Aberdeen Angus Society, continued to work on his farm until 10 days before his death, which was caused by fluid on his lung.
The business, now called P&R Whitwam, is run by his son Robert, 55, and his family.
Philip enjoyed antiques, photography, steam trains, choirs, brass bands, walking in the Yorkshire Dales and Peak District and trips to Italy, Switzerland and Austria.
Mr Whitwam was buried at Slaithwaite Cemetery following a funeral at Carr Lane Methodist Chapel, Slaithwaite, on February 4.
He leaves wife Brenda, children Robert and Janice, grandchildren Richard, Jemma, Philip, Alison and Andrew, and great-grandchild Lexi.
Robert said: “He was a lovely family man. He was always there if you wanted him.
“He had a very dry sense of humour, especially regarding life and death. He liked to look on the bright side of life.
“As long as he could walk he would come on the farm. He loved pottering about and his animals and because other family members were working on the farm.”
