Tribute to Patrick Joice, the Naked Farmer

Former NPA chairman Richard Longthorp pays a glowing tribute to his friend, the farmer and mental health campaigner Patrick Joice, who died last week at the age of 46. The inspirational Norfolk farmer raised more than £50,000 for mental health charity YANA while battling terminal cancer and depression. You can read more here

Patrick Joice and his wonderful wife Zanna are one of the most amazing and deeply resilient couples it has been my privilege to meet and come to know.

I first came across Paddy when I interviewed him for the Professional Managers Development Scheme. Needless to say he got onto the course and in terms of leadership skills never looked back. In fact he raised the bar for the rest of us

Throughout life we all have our challenges to contend with but, whichever greater being decides these things, they chose to throw the proverbial kitchen sink at Paddy & Zanna. With Paddy diagnosed with terminal cancer shortly after finishing PMDS and then becoming racked with that horrible disease called depression, the way Paddy and Zanna dealt with it all was nothing short of astounding and an example to us all.

Despite, I am sure, there having been some very dark times and being tested way beyond most people’s limit, they never broke, they never bowed, they never complained.

They just got on with life, stuck two fingers up and instead of saying “Something needs to be done” they said “We are going to do something”. And my goodness what that something turned out to be. Over £50,000 raised for the mental health charity YANA and the profile of mental health issues amongst farmers raised immeasurably.

What an achievement, what a legacy, what a bloke.

Zanna, Jack and Olivia have lost a loving husband and father. Farming and wider society have lost a very caring man, a great man, a great leader.

Go strong Paddy.

 

Supporting YANA

The Naked Farmer cricked day in June raised more than £50,000 for YANA. 

The YANA (You Are Not Alone) Project offers confidential mental health support and counselling for those in farming and rural industries in Norfolk and Suffolk. Contact the helpline on 0300 323 0400 or email johoey@yanahelp.org