The late Bryan K. Edgley MBE

Bryan K. Edgley

On 19th July 2024, at the age of 92, Bryan Kelsey Edgley MBE FRSA, passed away peacefully at the Chiltern Grange Care Home following a long illness. Bryan was a dearly loved father to Rosalind (Polly), Paul and Charlie, and brother to Diana, Hugh and John. He was surrounded by his loving family and the wonderful nursing staff.

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Bryan and Alison were blessed with grandchildren: Alex, William, Richard, Angus, Tara and Izzy, and a great-granddaughter, Calandra.

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Bryan was born in Wandsworth to parents Roy and Olive Edgley and educated at Charterhouse School, where he excelled in shooting and won the Ashburton Shield in 1948. After completing National Service as an officer in the Royal Horse Guards and studying law as an articled clerk at Jaques of London, he took the bold decision to change career trajectory and not follow his grandfather and father into the legal profession, but instead learn the farming trade under the tutelage of William Scott Abbott at Sacrewell, Peterborough.

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Not long after, he went on a blind date with a P.E. teacher named Alison Bennett. Bryan, always decisive, asked Alison if she wanted to be a farmer’s wife just three days later! They married on August 2nd 1955, and moved to Kensham Farm at Michaelmas 1955.

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At that time, there were two building orders against the farmhouse: a preservation order for the Grade II listed structure and a slum clearance order. Thus, the house could not be demolished, but it could not be occupied either. Bryan and Alison lovingly renovated the house and installed modern conveniences such as running water, electricity, and an indoor lavatory. Together with their son Charlie, who returned to the farm in 1986, they built the farm business into the successful and widely respected family partnership that it is today.

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In 2013, Bryan was immensely proud to be awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to agriculture and the local community in Buckinghamshire by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. Bryan dedicated his life to his family and community, serving as Churchwarden at Holy Trinity Lane End church for over two decades and contributing to agriculture for over six decades. He never stopped working for the benefit of parishioners in Lane End or farmers through the National Farmers Union.

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At the age of 90, Bryan authored his first book, The Changing Pattern of Farming 1912-2020, and in 2022 was interviewed by Countryfile, for the BBC’s celebratory centenary edition. At the age of 92, he completed his second book, Reflections of A Church Warden, with illustrations by granddaughter Izzy. The book meant a tremendous amount to him, as a testament to his strong Christian faith and will be published posthumously.

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A truly remarkable man, who contributed so much to family, friends and community, he was deeply loved by so many people it is impossible to mention everyone by name, but they all know who they are and the special place they had for him in his heart.

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Bryan’s beloved wife of 65 years Alison passed away in 2020. Life was never the same again without her, and they are reunited now, together forever.

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Rest in peace, Bryan.