TRIBUTES have been paid to former farmers' leader Clive Langford-Mycock, who died at his home on Sunday night.

The hilltop sheep and cattle farmer, who was one of the Moorlands' most colourful characters, had been recovering from bowel cancer.

The 65-year-old father was found by his wife Jackie in a chair at their 17th century farmhouse, Back O'th Brook Farm in Waterfall.

She tried to resuscitate him until paramedics arrived.

Mr Langford-Mycock, who also wrote a column in a weekly newspaper and described himself as a "grumpy old farmer", underwent surgery in December and was out of hospital within three days.

He was diagnosed after receiving a letter from the NHS inviting him to take part in a bowel screening test.

He later told how he felt so physically fit that he ignored the letter, but was forced to take the test by his wife.

Following his treatment, Mr Langford-Mycock launched an awareness campaign to persuade other men to be screened.

He was an ex-Staffordshire president of the National Farmers' Union and sat on the organisation's national council for 10 years.

His step-son, Jamie, was married to Judith, who is the daughter of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council cabinet member Edwin Wain.

Mr Wain said the family were devastated by his death, which has also left the Moorlands farming community reeling.

The councillor, who runs the village shop in Waterhouses, said: "I understand Jackie went out to shut the chickens up because Clive could not go out because it was so cold.

"She rang 999 when she found him and tried to pump his chest until the paramedics came. Everyone is very shocked.

"He had bowel cancer, but was out of hospital within three days. He seemed to get over it remarkably well."

Mr Wain added: "Clive and Jackie had been together for about five to six years.

"She was probably the best thing that ever happened to him. She helped him around the farm and they were devoted to one another."

Mr Langford-Mycock was a keen supporter of Leek Show and was the commentator for about 20 years.

Derek Torr, president of Leek and District Show Society, said: "His humour and his knowledge of livestock was second to none."

Mr Langford-Mycock was the fourth generation of his family to farm the land on the Peak District border and his grandfather was a founding member of the local National Farmers' Union branch.

Renowned for speaking his mind, he had received death threats for his views on issues such as blood sports.

He also helped the county's 2,000 farmers through the foot and mouth crisis in 2002 and earned recognition from the then Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Retired Leek farmer Harold Critchlow, of Ashdale Road, Leek, said Mr Langford-Mycock was invited to become NFU chairman because of his straight talking.

He said: "He would always say it as he saw it."

Moorlands council leader Sybil Ralphs added: "Clive was a country gentleman. He was extremely well-liked and well respected by everyone who knew him."

Leave your tributes to Clive Langford-Mycock below

Related stories:

'A flying cow wrecked my car' - driver escapes accident with cuts and bruises