I am very sorry to be bringing you this very sad news today from England, Jack passed away yesterday at the age of 91.
Jack had been involved with Wallis and M-H "U" frame tractors from a very young age on their family farm near Stamford in Lincolnshire, he witnessed the farms transition from horses to tractors, with the help of Massey-Harris and hard work their farm evolved and grew through his earlier years. Later a M-H 744PD tractor brought them into the diesel tractor era. As time progressed a few Fordson and later Ford tractors were their work horses, together with a Caterpillar crawler, but Jack always kept his affection for anything M-H.
As retiremenet came upon Jack he enjoyed the old family tractors he still had around the farm and gradually built a very special collection of tractors including Wallis, M-H, Case, Oliver, Ford and Fordson, together with his interest in all M-H implements he had worked with on his farm and his passion of Steam Ploughing with his lifelong restoration of a Fowler ploughing engine (Princess) anti balance plough and Fowler living van.
Jack even though retired was always proud to discuss tthe farm's development and how both John and Guy continued the forward thinking and development of their family farm in these very different times of today and still using Massey Ferguson tractors.
Some of you over the years have had the pleasure of meeting both Jack and Judy at their home, together with your personal memories of the visits to Jack's "workshop" as he called it to view his treasured collection and passion for all things of "Agricultural and local Heritage".
Jack thoroughly enjoyed his later years sitting at his desk with his computer and participating on the Massey Collectors website with his "Worldwide Massey Friends", this together with his passion for both Country Music and the Royal Air Force gave Jack a lot of pleasure.
For me personally I am very sad to loose a "Massey-Harris friend", Jack was a very knowledgable, kind and helpful man, always there to share a "Massey problem" during restoration projects or times when a tractor would not start, his knowledge of working "U" frame tractors in their day was tremendous. We had some great Massey trips together over recent years to locations in England, Wales and Scotland.
Please keep Judy, their children John, Jo, Jenny and Guy with their respective families in your thoughts over the coming days and weeks.
Rest In Peace Jack.
Malcolm
Malcolm