Victor Woods - (1947 - 2009) An appreciation
 | Students and staff, past and present - indeed the whole farming community in Northern Ireland and beyond were numbed with shock on Saturday 5 December 2009 as the sad news of Victor Woods’ death filtered out. Although Victor had been off work for four weeks, we were all hopeful that he would recover and return to his post at some time in the future. However this was not to be, as in his last week his condition deteriorated rapidly and he passed away unexpectedly. It would be impossible to overestimate the contribution that Victor Woods made at Greenmount over the last 43 years as a livestock expert, as a farm manager and as a fun loving raconteur. Although Victor was always referred to as a Fermanagh man, he was born in Co. Tyrone in Drumquin on 9 January 1947.The winter of 1946/47 is also etched in the memory of historians as the year of the heavy snow. At the age of 11 Victor moved with his family to the family farm at Glasmullagh, Irvinestown, firstly attending Victoria Primary School and then Kesh Secondary School and Enniskillen Technical College. |
Victor arrived at Greenmount in September 1964 to study as an NCA student. His first full-time posting as farm staff was in 1965 at the time when Matt Boyd was Principal of Greenmount. Promotion followed quickly when in 1972 Victor became the group 2 trials supervisor in the old experimental unit. Further promotion led to the post of manager of the experimental unit in 1977 and then as Group 4 Farm Manager of the College farm in 1984, a post previously held by Andy Hunter. In 1997 Victor moved to manage the Livestock Development Centre that encompassed the Greenmount Abbey, Organic and Hill Farms.
Some of Victor’s achievements at Greenmount were setting up the CREAM herd and RAMS flock, the Nature Trail and more recently the Organic Unit. However one of Victor’s greatest passions was keeping the highest quality stock and it wasn’t unusual for him to slip an odd bag of meal into stock at grass if he thought they weren’t looking showy enough. Often the technologist looking after the project wondered why the cattle came running over roaring when someone walked into the field – I suppose they thought it was their friend Victor. The renowned pedigree Limousin LIMO herd at the Abbey farm was Victor’s pride and joy. He was one of the main drivers behind the LIMO project and his passion, energy, enthusiasm and professionalism ensured that the project remained in the limelight. Re-establishing the herd in 2001 meant sourcing the best bloodlines from herds in France, Wales and Northern Ireland and here Victor played a leading role. His unsurpassed knowledge and experience in cattle breeding led to the establishment of one of the best herds of pedigree Limousins producing many show winners and achieving top sale prices.
A recent picture of Victor at the Carlisle 2009 February sale with ex Greenmount student Christina Loughran. Christina is holding Supreme Champion “Millgate Ceasar”.
Victor was an institution at Greenmount and his association with the College stretches back over almost two generations, a period of 45 years. He lived on the College Estate for most of this time and brought up his two children there. However life was not always a bed of roses and Victor lost his dear wife Sylvia in 1994 after a long illness through which he nursed her. Although Sylvia’s passing left a terrible void in his life, Victor committed time to organising and running many successful fund raising events at Greenmount, the proceeds of which were donated to the Northern Ireland Hospice. As a member of the neighbouring St Jude’s Church of Ireland, Victor served for many years as People’s Glebewarden and in later years as a member of the church vestry.
Victor was a ‘people person’ through and through and over the four decades he has been associated with Greenmount formed innumerable friendships and contacts, borne out by the massive crowd who attended his funeral. He was a lover of life and always had a positive outlook. If Victor couldn’t help you, no one could. If Victor couldn’t have a bit of fun then no one could. And if Victor couldn’t tell a good yarn then no one could. He was held in the highest esteem by his colleagues, students and visitors alike. During his employment Victor was totally committed, enthusiastic and hard working and looked after the farm as if it was his own, calving cows at night, tending stock out of hours and often getting up in the middle of the night to deal with some crisis or other. The benefit of his experience when implementing many policy changes at the Greenmount Farm over the years has been immense and hundreds of students have gained a sound farming foundation from his efforts and instruction. Victor was a Greenmount man to the core and at every opportunity he extolled its virtues and the contribution which Greenmount had made to his life. Greenmount could not have had a better ambassador, a fact recognised in his election to the post of President of the Greenmount Association in 1990.
Victor enjoyed nothing better than a bit of craic and fun. He loved to organise farewells and along with Wilma Houston he arranged many retirement dos. Gerry Kennedy’s retirement in 1985 based on This is your Life and the famous Red Book, Maggie Torrens’ appreciation party in the 1990s and Isobel Calvert’s retirement dinner in the Ross Park Hotel in 2008 all spring to mind. With the microphone in his hand, an audience hanging on every word and a PowerPoint presentation revealing embarrassing faux pas, Victor was in his element. He would have made an excellent presenter for ‘You’ve been framed’ such was his easy presentation style and his love of good clean fun. He had a penchant for composing satirical odes and delivering them in his own inimitable style. Perhaps the pinnacle of his acting career was as the contestant (and part producer) in Greenmount’s version of ‘Who wants to be a millionaire’ a one hour play presented at Christmas away back in 2002 and still fondly remembered as his finest hour.
The large attendance at Victor’s funeral in St Jude’s, Muckamore on Tuesday 8th December 2009, most of whom couldn’t get into the church and had to be accommodated in the Abbey Shed and the fitting eulogy given by the Reverend William Orr bear testimony to Victor’s status and popularity throughout the entire farming community in Northern Ireland.
As the funeral cortege passed through the farm and grounds of Greenmount taking Victor on his final journey through a place he called home and one that he loved dearly, the avenue was lined with staff and students to bid him farewell. Greenmount will never forget one of its best known sons, a true friend and colleague and an inspiration to all Greenmountaineers.
Victor is survived by his mother Minnie, daughter Fiona, son Alistair, grandchildren Erin and Jake, brother Alan and sisters Olive and Florence. To all of them we extend our sincerest sympathies.
Although Greenmount has lost one of its finest people, it is a richer place because of Victor Woods. It has been a great privilege to have had the benefit of his company and Victor’s story will be passed on to those who never knew him.
Charlie Kilpatrick
