Our long-standing patron and friend of the society, Ronald Blythe died on January 14th 2023, not long after celebrating his 100th birthday. He was a fierce champion of rural England and its inhabitants, having grown up in a farming family in Suffolk, where he lived most of his life, most latterly at Bottengoms Farm, Wormingford. As resident of the Vale, his writings reflected his deep attachment to our area. We will miss him and his wise counsel.
For more information about his life and achievements, please see the obituaries in the Guardian, Times and Telegraph that were printed on 16 and 17 January.