The life and times of Somerset farming legend, Derek Tottle

We’re here to find out about his story, how he journeyed from being a young lad with a strong aversion to schooling to become the much loved and highly respected Somerset farming legend that he is today.

The reason we’ve chosen this moment in time is because we’re celebrating the fact that Derek has been trading with Greenslade Taylor Hunt (in its various forms) for 60 years this year.

This is noteworthy in itself, but as his story unfolded and we heard how he got to where he is today and all that he’s achieved and lived through, we came away with a profound respect for Derek. His sheer drive and determination to get somewhere and make something of himself is inspirational.

Back to the 1950s

So, we’ll start at the beginning or when DT was roughly five years old. Peering out of his bedroom window one morning, wondering how he could get out of going to school that day. He sees Mr Brewer amble past with his horse and cart who calls over to him: “Want to come down and feed the bullocks, Dirk?” There was no holding him back of course and off he went.

Derek made regular visits to Taunton Market from an early age, back around 1960, in the days of rival firms FL Hunt & Sons, CR Morris, Sons & Peard, Dobbs Stagg Knowlman & Co and WRJ Greenslade, before various mergers and acquisitions took place.

When he reached the grand age of 12, he made his first purchase; paying £13 for one Clun Forest ewe and £12 10 shillings for a Kerry Hill ewe, plus some lambs. This was the start of his illustrious farming career and a very memorable moment for Derek.

Upon leaving school, Mr Brewer kindly found him a job at a farm in Stoke St Gregory. He had told the farmer (widely reputed to be the richest farmer in the area at that time) that Derek could turn his hand to anything, including milking the old Devon cow he had there.

Kindness of others

One common theme in Derek’s story is the kindness of the farming folk in the communities around him. Established farmers were willing to give him a leg up at the start of his journey, always keeping to their word and dealing with him honourably.

We have the kindly Mr Brewer we met at the beginning, who upon employing Derek after his stint at Stoke St Gregory, rented him a small parcel of land to get started.

Later, there was the Lady of the Manor, Mrs Barrett, who at age 90 decided to retire and sell her cattle and a small orchard. Mr Brewer felt it was a good opportunity and asked the lady if she’d let the land to Derek. She agreed but then Mr Brewer’s brother went to the auctioneer to try to rent it for himself. However, Mrs Barrett was true to her word and rented to Derek. This was a good move for him and set him on the path for more acquisitions.

In the early 1970s Stan Woodland was selling 20 acres for £2,000. Stan was known as a night owl, not eating his dinner until midnight, so Derek decided that was a good time to catch him. As he donned his coat he told his wife, Christine, that he was off to buy the land and: “I don’t know what time I’ll be back!”

While Stan was listening to Derek and enjoying his meal, the phone rang. “Oh, ‘allo Mr Dennis. You want to buy the land… Well, I’ve more or less done a deal with Derek.” Turning to his wife, Vera, he asked her opinion. She told him that they should follow through and do the deal with Derek. When Derek asked her why, she made the point that Mr Dennis was well established and they wanted to help Derek as he was just starting out. Needless to say, Derek ambled home “chuffed as nuts” at 2.00am to tell his wife the good news!

During our conversation, Derek many times mentioned his friends and neighbours and how they’ve helped him, particularly through some very difficult times in recent years. He was visibly emotional when we drove along to see Ian and Denise, who work for him at West End Farm. It is clear that he is truly touched by their kindness and support of him, and we don’t doubt that he has offered others the same human touch many times during his life.

Business sense

It’s clear that the young Derek had a fire in his belly. He helped his dad for many years but realised that he had to strike out on his own to make something for himself. He was ambitious and driven and knew a good opportunity when he saw it. There was the time he bought some ‘rough looking’ lambs for £5 a head, prompting another farmer to quip: “I hope you got a spade!” Undeterred, Derek loaded them up, looked after them on his land and sold them on for £11 apiece. Not a bad profit margin.

He remembers when he bought the land from Mr Woodland for £2,000 that his father was incredulous, wondering how on earth he was going to pay for it. But Derek had a plan to sell some bullocks for £500 and borrow the rest from the bank. He soon paid off the rest by making some hay, selling a whole bay for £1,000, and selling off some cattle in the spring. It’s clear that he always had a plan.

Moving on up

We fast forward to 1976, when the Council owned West End Farm in Marston Magna came up for tenancy. Derek and Christine were very keen and sent off an application form. They had to have four references and managed to get the local Vicar to recommend them. Derek’s friend, Roger Forster, was also a force to be reckoned with. He very strongly counselled Derek in the best way to approach the interview: “Tell ‘em what you’re gonna do, not what you think you’re gonna do! Tell em you’ll milk 50 cows and you’ll lamb those ewes. You’re better than any b****r in there, you do what I tell ‘e!”

With those words ringing in his ears, Derek walked into a stately room at County Hall with Christine, the last couple in a shortlist of five to be interviewed (it’s worth noting here that there were 74 completed applications submitted to the Council).

The force of nature who is Derek Tottle wasn’t to be denied and he and Christine were called back in and given the keys to West End Farm.

They started out small, Derek selling his cattle to buy milkers, and so started his great dairy enterprise spanning 52 years, with Christine working hard alongside him and raising their children.

Stealthy expansion

Although West End Farm was keeping him busy, Derek wasn’t one to sit still. The Pitman sisters owned a field in between some of his own which, if he could purchase, would neatly bridge the gap. Derek approached the ladies and the following week, they agreed to sell it him for £800 per acre. He offered £775 per acre and they shook hands. He funded the purchase by selling 20 acres in North Curry, having some left over to buy some more cows.

In 1983, one of the kindly Miss Pitman’s passed away and Derek seized the opportunity to bid for 23 acres at the auction run by Martin Dare of RB Taylor & Sons, at the Three Choughs pub in Yeovil. He was up against a smart gentleman with a briefcase who looked extremely keen. Derek decided to play his cards close to his chest and got a friend to bid on this behalf, strategically placing himself behind him so that he could nudge him on to the fall of the gavel.

Martin Dare got a surprise when Derek strode over to the desk to pay at the end of the auction: “Hello Derek, and what can I do for you?” With a grin Derek replied: “You’d better take the deposit for the land I just bought!” As you can imagine, Martin’s expression was a picture.

That 23 acres set Derek back £60,000 – incurring an eye-watering 18 per cent interest on the loan. He stuck with it and paid it off fairly quickly through milking his expanding herd.

A little while later, Thorney Lane Farm came up for sale. The farm consisted of 90 acres of land plus buildings but it was “rough”, with old grass, thistles and rubbish. Derek knew it would take some work but he also knew it would be worth it.

At the auction run by Paul Austin, an auctioneer at RB Taylor & Sons, it didn’t reach the reserve so Derek was encouraged to up his offer, being told that “you’ll never see this opportunity again” – but he refused. He thought he’d missed out when another farmer made an offer but philosophised: “You can’t miss what you never had”. However, later on, a neighbour informed him that the deal had fallen through which galvanised him into action.

The very next morning, Derek knocked on the farmer’s door – nobody there. He tried the next day and the old gentleman finally answered. After some to and fro, it was clear that the farmer wanted another £10,000. In the end, Derek shook his hand and said: “Get on the phone to your solicitor because I want this done today!” The deposit was promptly picked up by the solicitor and the deal was done by 12 noon that very day.

Swinging into action, he jumped on his tractor and mowed the lot, putting it into silage for the 40 heifers he bought to graze the land. And so continued Derek’s farming empire – that £150,000 investment was worth it when after nearly 30 years of graft, the farm recently sold through Justin Lowe, Partner at GTH, for nearly £2m.

It is undisputed that Derek is a good businessman and his integrity and honesty have earned him a good reputation over the years.

The next chapter

During the last 15 years or so, as his herd increased, Derek calved between 700 and 800 heifers a year and sold them all through Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s livestock market. Derek Biss, partner at Greenslade Taylor Hunt, has often commented that there is unlikely to be another farmer to match this level of trade.

As we said our goodbyes to Derek on that sunny afternoon, we were left with a strong sense that we had been in the presence of a great man. Only a man with his vivacious character could be so well known, respected and well thought of over such a long period of time, and by so many. He is truly Somerset’s son and his story is woven into the fabric of this county’s green and pleasant land.