Landowner and civic stalwart, Sir Nigel Forbes Adam, has died
Well known Yorkshire landowner, Sir Nigel Forbes Adam, has died aged 91.
Sir Nigel was the third son of Colin Forbes Adam, former chairman of Yorkshire Post Newspapers.
He worked in advertising and for the Hargreaves Group of Companies, before taking charge of Escrick Park Estate, between York and Selby, when he was 30. The estate has been in the hands of the Forbes Adam family for over 350 years.
He also had a long and distinguished career in local government, agriculture and the arts in Yorkshire, as well as being a JP and High Sheriff and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.
Sir Nigel’s posts included being a member of the Board of Governors of York Theatre Royal; chairman of the Ouse and Derwent Rural District Council; member of the North Eastern Conservancy Regional Advisory Committee and president of the Yorkshire Branch of the Royal Forestry Society.
He was also president of the Yorkshire Branch of the Country Land & Business Association (CLA); a member of the Youth Theatre Trust Yorkshire; chairman of the Yorkshire Branch of the National Trust; and president of Yorkshire Agriculture Society.
Sir Nigel had four children, Charlie, Titus, Pip and Harry with his first wife, Toppet, before he married Malise Ropner in 1987. His eldest son Charlie now becomes the sixth Baronet.
Charlie said: “My father was always ready with a friendly hello and a very warm welcome; he was a generous host and also a great guest.
“Equally though, he had a tremendous sense of civic duty: He used to say to me often that there was no privilege without responsibility and he was wise and perceptive when the occasion demanded. He was cultured and cultivated, yet he also loved all aspects of rural life.
“He was comparatively young when he took over the running of the estate. As the third son, it was something he wasn’t expecting. But he looked after the estate with diligence and love and, as a family, we are very proud of his intelligent guardianship.”
Sir Nigel’s funeral will take place at Skipwith Church at noon on Wednesday 26 January.
