Romney breeder dies

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33665, 15 October 1974, Page 14

Romney breeder dies

Mr F. H. (Frank) Chittock. of Lincoln, who died recently was a well-known livestock farmer and breeder of Romney sheep. He had the Rose stud. Mr Chittock, who was 77,' was born at Waikoikoi, Gore, where he was educated. From an early age he managed his father’s farm at Waikoikoi and at the age of 25 he bought the Rosemerryn property at Kelso, which he farmed until 1954. This property is still farmed by five jof his sons.

During World War 11, at a time when labour was very short, he is reputed to have looked after 6000 ewes at lambing time using a car with a driver to get around his flock. A man with a wide know-

ledge of the farming industry jhas recalled that he was the first man he knew of who (required a complete train to remove to the freezing works, ■his first draft of the season 'of 3500 prime lambs. He moved to Lincoln in Canterbury with the intension of demonstrating that Romney sheep could be run as well here as in the south. While breeding Romney, sheep all of his life it was not until moving to Lincoln that he established a stud flock, but while in the south he was a well-known exhi-i bitor of sheep and cattle and ! was a foundation member of the West Otago Agricultural i ■and Pastoral Society and an honorary member at the time of his death. With stud sheep he continued to have success in the show ring and his sheep comimanded leading prices at (sales. He was also a judge 'of Romney sheep. Mr Chittock has been described as a man devoted to? animals, their breeding and well being. He also had great? faith in the country and farming. A man known to hold strong views, he was always i

a strong advocate of deep ploughing. In his earlier days he served as chairman of the Farmers’ Union at Kelso and at the time of his death he was vice-president of the Christchurch Rifle Club. Mr Chittock is survived bv his wife, eight sons, and two daughters.