Thanks for taking the time to visit the JustGiving page in memory of Mike Foster.
MIKE
Michael Foster, who died on Wednesday 13 July aged 73, was a well respected farmer and auctioneer known to many throughout the County.
From his early years, farming was in his blood, inheriting the love of livestock animals from his father, Dick Foster, whose father was a founder member of the auctioneering firm ‘Ambrose & Foster’. Michael was a natural sportsman excelling on the cricket pitch. He twice played at Lords Cricket Ground for his school, Tonbridge, when as a slow spin bowler he took five wickets for fifty five runs in one match. Golf he took up with enthusiasm and frustration, ultimately being able to out drive many of his golfing friends. Squash and rackets were two other sports he enjoyed. National Service took him away from his farm in 1957 when he joined the Buffs at Canterbury. Upon getting a commission he joined the Northamptonshire Regiment. On completion of this two year period he became articled to a firm of Auctioneers in Sussex. His father considered he should ‘learn the ropes’ before returning to the firm. A premium was paid of £150 for a three year period. During that time Michael received no pay, merely a Christmas Box of £3, rising to £5 on his final Christmas!
During his years of auctioneering he has sold most livestock animals, rising from poultry, eggs and fruit to sheep and cattle. On the death of his father in 1974 he took over the running of Court Lodge Farm, being the third generation of the Foster family to take on the tenancy. He was known to be a fair ‘Boss’ if at times tough.
Lambert & Foster became his extended family, particularly in later life when farming practices became more computerised, a technology which infuriated and baffled him.
He fought back to health after a massive stroke in 1996 regaining almost full movement. Sadly his ability to auction long cattle sales was curtailed but another option was offered him. He received an invitation from the Clerk to the Course at Lingfield to auction the Winner of the Selling Race. This became a regular feature of his Saturdays covering many courses in the South East from Folkestone, Fontwell and Brighton to Kempton Park, Sandown Racecourse to Windsor and Epsom.
His interests covered many country and sporting activities and for which he became a regular Committee Member. These varied from the Kent County Show, The Mote Cricket Club in Maidstone, the Tickham Foxhounds to maintaining annual contact with friends of Maidstone Squash Club with whom he had enjoyed many hard fought games in his earlier years.
Travelling with friends from the Forty Club became his winter holiday; unable to play, he would occasionally take on the role of umpire for cricket matches, always a regular at the bar after the games. Lambing on the farm was scheduled for mid March, a date which featured strongly in his diary.
He had close ties with the Kent County Show where he received acknowledgement for his forty years service. The Castle Club in Rochester was a feature of his Monday evenings, meeting friends there for a game of snooker.
Illness again took its toll in the last few years of his life when he bravely battled cancer, continuing with as many activities as was physically possible. He will be much missed by his sister Anne and immediate family, also many in the farming world, his various sporting associations and most particularly by his colleagues at Lambert & Foster.
A Thanksgiving Service will be held at St Mary and All Saints, Boxley on Tuesday 23 August at 3 pm.
Donations are invited for the Addington Fund in memory of Mike.
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