Cllr. Bill Harbour

I have been in farming all of my life. I was brought up on a traditional mixed family farm, started by my grandfather as a market garden supplying fruit and vegetables to shops in Herne Bay which gradually got larger with sheep, pigs, beef cattle and arable. I attended Hadlow college and returned to the family to run the arable side. However, it became obvious that there were too many family members involved to make a living. My cousin got the tenancy on a large part of the land. I left the family and got a job as assistant manager on a sheep, beef and arable farm in Essex. Within fifteen months, the position of farm manager at Sheldwich, for Lord Sondes, came up and I was lucky enough to get the job. I started in November 1977. The old tenant at Gosmere had retired along with most of his staff. Two of them moved to Owen’s Court and the then tenant took over the Gosmere Hop gardens.

I stayed on the farm for 35 years, gradually taking over more land. During that time I got involved in organisations in Sheldwich. I joined the Parish Council sometime in the 80s. I also became a member of the, then, horticultural society which has morphed into SVEMCO, Sheldwich Village Events Management Company, a not for profit company of which I am a director. I am Chairman of the trustees of the village hall.

Away from the village I have been a member of Canterbury Farmers Club since the late 60s, chairing it about six years ago.

I currently hold the following Portfolios on behalf of the Parish Council:

Emergency Plan
Planning
Tree Warden