A GOLDEN Valley man who grew a worldwide career from selling hay and straw has died after a short illness.

There cannot be many farmers in Herefordshire and Wales that have not done business with Michael Ball over the last 50 years.

Mr Ball started selling hay “by accident”

after moving to the county as a teenager with little farming experience.

He launched Balls of Madley as a 21-year-old and spent the next 48 years travelling around Britain and Europe with his loads.

Friends and family have paid tribute to the father-of-three from Eaton Bishop, who died on Sunday aged 72.

His son, James Ball, said his father was “extremely well known” and would be greatly missed by his wife, children and family.

He said his dad was an entrepeur who loved to travel, later selling rock salt in places as far afield as Morocco, Iran and Pakistan.

“He started on his own with nothing and built it up. If he thought he could make £1 he would give you a deal,”

said James.

“He kept working right to the end and the last holiday we had was to Pakistan to trace the source of the rock salt he sold.”

Graham Baker of Sunderlands and Thompsons became friends with Mr Ball as a young farmer and helped him buy his first home.

He said Mr Ball made a “pretty penny” out of his business, but was also a family man and very religious.

“He must have been known to every farmer in Wales because Ball of Madley was known all over the place,” said Mr Baker.

Mr Ball’s funeral takes place at Belmont Roman Catholic Church at 1pm on Friday, August 19. He leaves his wife, Susan, and three children, Tim, Steven and James.