We are greatly saddened to hear news of the death of Old Seafordian William Anthony Parrish, known to his family and friends as Bill.

Writing about his father, his son, William said: “Bill left Seaford College in December 1958, when his father decided that he was needed on the farm. He was quite upset at the fact that he wouldn’t be returning to the school, which he enjoyed, as there was no warning or indication. He told me once that he had many fond and happy memories of Seaford and especially that it had a small farm, where students would be given duties to perform. 

“He worked happily with his father for three years until the sudden and untimely passing of his father, when Bill was only 19 years old. He was then responsible for the running of the farm and business. He took the bull by the horns, as they say, and got on with it.

“He met his future wife (Gill, a police officer’s daughter) at Young Farmers and they married on the 22nd June 1967. They had three children together, William (1971) and twin girls, Emma and Jane (1975).

“He was passionate about farming and was determined to take the business forward and expanded it. He increased the pig side of the business and gradually the arable side too, buying land here and there.

“With the ups and downs of the pig industry, he reluctantly stopped rearing pigs. Not to be beaten or defeated, though, he saw a gap in an untapped market and slowly started converting the old pig buildings into small, light industrial units. No building was safe – if it wasn’t earning it was let. He was one of the first farmers in our area to offer industrial units, and these days it’s unusual for a farm not to do this sort of enterprise.

“He was a true countryman, living his life on the land and enjoying its pursuits. He was a keeper of many Labrador working dogs over his lifetime and was devoted to each one, as they were to him. He planted many hedgerows and trees (oak being his favourite) during his life on the farm and was happiest on the farm and driving around seeing the fruits of his labour.

“I came home to work on the farm in 1997, and we shared many happy times together, working well as a team and continuing to grow the business further. I counted myself lucky that I had 28 years working with him and he taught me a lot and handed over the running of the business to me seven years ago.

“Bill was, first and foremost, a family man, and it meant more to him than anything. He saw his children grow up and be successful in their chosen careers and all three of them marry and bestow upon him six loving grandchildren whom he adored. He welcomed his daughter-in-law and two sons-in-law into the family with open arms and treated them all like one of his own. He enjoyed nothing more than family lunches, parties and especially on his birthday and at Christmas.

“He and my mother recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary, and they had many happy times together, whether at home or travelling around the world on trips of a lifetime.

“He loved all the seasons within the farming calendar, although winter was his least favourite, summer being his favourite. So, it seems quite appropriate that he should pass during harvest. He even came down the field to see how harvest was progressing the day before he was taken ill.

“After a short illness, Bill passed away peacefully, with his family beside him. He will be dearly missed.

“The funeral was well attended and a celebration of his long life and successful career, he was well respected within the farming community as a successful businessman, as well as all the friends he had made over the years.”