FRIENDS and family of a Suffolk farmer will gather to celebrate his life today after his sudden death earlier this month.

Lizzie Parry

FRIENDS and family of a Suffolk farmer will gather to celebrate his life next Saturday after his sudden death earlier this month.

Father-of-three Charles Brinton Nash, 48, collapsed and died on his farm in Hasketon, near Woodbridge, on Sunday while out walking.

His funeral is taking place next Saturday, March 14, at 2pm at Grundisburgh Church and his widow, Belinda Nash, said the celebration of his life would be a fitting tribute to a “wonderful man”.

Mr Nash, who had three children, Josie, 16, Christopher, 14 and 10-year-old Annabel, owned and ran Sutton Hoo Chickens as well as helping run the family farm and serving as a parish councillor.

Mrs Nash said: “He was just the most wonderful person, a real English gentleman. He had the ability to make everybody feel special; everyone who met him saw he had a way of making them feel like a very special person.

“He had many unbelievable friends from all walks of life.

“He was a very kind and considerate man, always off doing things for everybody. He loved to party with friends, he worked very hard and had a real passion for life, there was a magic about him that was infectious.

“We are determined to celebrate his life we have hired a big marquee and will enjoy remembering his wonderful life.”

Mr Nash was familiar face at the various farmers' markets and was highly regarded in the Suffolk farming community. His widow said the family had received dozens of cards and had about 40 cottage pies and other meals in their freezer - offerings from close neighbours and friends.

Farmers and friends have stepped in to help the Nash family attending to cows in calf and helping out on the fields.

Close family friend Jane Good said: “It has been very moving to see everyone stepping in to help, immediately all the farm workers arrived to help and two neighbouring farmers came to attend to the cattle. It has been a real team effort.”

She added: “Charles was a very special person; he was so kind and always had time for everybody even though he was rushed off his feet.”

Mr and Mrs Nash were married for 19 years, and were due to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in October this year. They met in South Africa while Mr Nash was backpacking on his gap year.

Mrs Nash said her husband's love of the outdoors was obvious in every aspect of his life. “He loved to go out shooting, he lived for the outdoors, he was quite happy off with his dogs,” she said.

“We have a herd of Red Poll cattle, they were another love of his, a passion - I used to call them his mistresses.”

Rhodri Tucker Harvey, chairman of Hasketon Parish Council and friend of Mr Nash's for 20 years, said he was an invaluable member of the council and a “great friend.”

Mrs Nash said she and the Sutton Hoo team were going to continue to run the business as usual, in memory of Mr Nash.