A FARMER who once led a Hereford bull into a china shop to prove how easy to manage the breed was has died aged 75.

Francis Robert Powell, known as Bob Powell, was a well-known freelance stockman who began by looking after Herefords but later cared for all cattle breeds including Charolais, Limousins, Longhorn.

Over the years he had a great number of successes including winning the Stockman of the Year at The Royal Show three times.

He trained and groomed the animals for shows and sales and later became a well respected cattle judge at many agricultural shows.

His claim to fame came in 1979 when the Hereford Herdbook Society asked Nancy Rutter, the owner of J W Rutter Ltd China, if a Hereford bull could be walked around her shop on Widemarsh Street.

The aim of the exercise was to show how docile and easy to manage the Hereford breed is.

Mr Powell was asked to undertake this task on behalf of the society, walking the bull in, turning it around in the shop and taking it back to the doorway.

The bull was perfectly behaved even to the extent that, on exiting the shop, the animal stopped and urinated straight down the drain – not on the pavement.

Mr Powell was a proud father of three girls, Diana, Kate and Amy and grandfather to his six grandchildren.

Speaking about her father, Amy said: "He was very charismatic and would light up a room when he walked in. He absolutely loved working with animals. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends."

His funeral will take place on Monday (February 13) at 3.45pm at Hereford Crematorium.

Donations in his memory can be made to Bailey Brothers of Cotterell Street Hereford towards the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (R.A.B.I), who supported his care during his illness.