A very sad loss to the farming community

Although Nelson had health problems, he was active until the end. Born in 1929, he was the only child of George and Eva Ruddell.

After attending Lurgan College and Campbell College, he took up management of the farm after his father’s death in 1952. Seven years later his mother died. In 1965 he married Ann Boyd from Newtownards. They were to have four sons.

The Ruddell family has farmed between Aghacommon and Lurgan for generations. Family tradition suggests that their roots in the area stretch back to the late 17th century.

Dr Frank McCorry has the Ruddell brothers holding large and medium sized farms, rural retail outlets for a variety of goods and substantial linen manufacturing interests. They also played a leading role in housing development adjacent to the newly established factories of mid-19th century Lurgan.

Today three of Nelson’s sons run fruit and vegetable businesses in Banbridge, Waringstown and Lurgan.

Nelson, throughout his life, was active in Farmers Union affairs. His father, George, was a founder member of the Ulster Farmers’ Union.

Nelson joined the Union’s North-East Armagh Group in the early 1950s and went on to chair both the Group and the Armagh County Committee.

He also served on the Farmers’ Union’s Central Executive and Council. He was a founder member and director of Ulster Farmers’ Investments Ltd. and a shareholder in Glenfarm Holdings.

Nelson campaigned on farming issues and represented the Union in negotiations with Government at the highest level.

His involvement was total and lifelong. In the 1950s he was part of the Farmers’ Union team that argued successfully for the lowering of Lough Neagh. In the 1960s he participated in negotiations about the controversial vesting of land for the building of Craigavon. During the 1970s, when the beef sector plummeted, he was active in Union efforts to stabilise prices. Even in recent months he supported local farmers’ demands for the cleansing of the Closet River following its pollution by Ballynacor Sewage Works in 2008.

Aside from farming, he had a lifelong interest in things mechanical. In the early 1950s he twice competed in the Circuit of Ireland Rally.

Brought up in a strongly Methodist tradition, he worshipped first at Ballinacorr and then at High Street in Lurgan.

His funeral, on Tuesday, May 11, was from Ballinacorr Methodist Church to the family burial ground at Seagoe, Portadown. He is survived by wife Ann and sons George, Richard, Clifford, Jonathan and their families.