RICHARD STICKLAND
(6 June 1945 – 6 January 2026)
Richard lived his entire life at Montague Farm, Wisborough Green. In fact, the Stickland family have been farming in Wisborough Green for over 100 years! Jesse, Richard’s grandfather, came to Wisborough Green with his family from Dorset and records show the family was farming at Sparr Farm in 1921.
In 1936, Arthur Stickland (Richard’s father), took over Montague Farm, having helped his father (Jesse) farm at Sparr Farm. Arthur married Anne in 1944 and Richard was born in 1945.
Richard was educated first at the convent in Billingshurst. Leaving there he spent a brief spell at Wisborough Green village school before going on to St John’s college at Coolhurst as a weekly boarder.
On leaving school he joined his father on the farm milking cows and doing contract work for neighbouring farms. In the early 70’s he was doing this at Harsfold Manor for the Scotts under the manager Ken Burt.
Arthur died in 1971 when Richard was only 25 leaving Richard to take on full responsibility for Montague Farm. In 1974 he married Janet and Emma was born in 1975 followed by Paul in 1977.
He originally milked Channel Island cows until gold top milk became less popular and he introduced Friesian cows into the herd. He continued milking until 2018 when reluctantly he hung up his last cluster when the price paid by the milk processer became unviable. He then changed to a suckler herd which graze the fields in the summer along with their calves.
Richard enjoyed a pheasant shoot and also going to farm and vintage machinery sales. He got pleasure from his Marshall tractors and latterly a Marshall steam engine which was new in 1906 to Carter Bros at Newpound.
He saw many changes in the village with many of the local businesses going, along with dairy farms and the local orchards.
He enjoyed the company of his terrier dogs and could often be seen driving the tractor or JCB through the village to Old Farm accompanied by his dog sitting up next to him.
When time allowed he tended his vegetable allotment which he took great pride in and caring for the bees he kept.
He was blessed with 2 grandsons, Freddy born to Emma and Andy in 2015 and Alfie to Paul and Gina in 2025 just before his 80th birthday.
He will be greatly missed by Janet, Emma, Andy and Freddy along with Paul, Gina, William, Arthur and Alfie and numerous friends far and wide.
Janet