Lord Henry Plumb – a timeline of his career

1925

Born Charles Henry Plumb in Ansley, Warwickshire, the son of a farmer.

1940

His father takes him out of school to work on the farm because of wartime labour shortages.

1943

Elected chairman of Coleshill YFC.

1947

Married his wife, Marjorie.

1960 – 1970

President of the National Federation of Young Farmers.

1964

Became an NFU officeholder for the first time when elected NFU Vice President.

1970 – 1979

NFU President.

1973

Knighted.

1976 – 1979

President of European Farmers’ Association.

1979

Elected as an MEP for the Cotswolds in the first-ever European Parliament elections. Served as an MEP until 1999.

1987

Became the first, and only, British President of the European Parliament. Served in the role until 1989.

1987

Made a Life Peer.

1995 – 2007

Chancellor of Coventry University.

2012

The Henry Plumb Foundation was launched – a charitable foundation to encourage the younger generation to engage with the agricultural industry.

2017

Retired from the House of Lords.