CUMBRIAN rural 'trailblazer' Olive Clarke has filled many roles and received numerous accolades during her lifetime of commitment to the countryside.

And on the day Olive marked her 100th birthday she was presented with another accolade - an NFYFC Life Vice President award.

Olive began her long association with the organisation in 1938 when she became a young farmer at the age of 16 and has continued to support and play an active role in the decades that have followed.

And on Sunday at Kendal Cricket Club to celebrate Olive's birthday milestone over 100 past and present members of Cumbria YFC gathered to show their love and respect for the matriarch of the young farmers movement in the county.

Edward Dungait, Chairman of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (NFYFC) attended to present Olive with her newest accolade. This was recently voted for unanimously at the NFYFC Annual General Meeting in April.

Olive delivered an extraordinary speech detailing her time in young farmers, and experiences growing up in a very different world to what we live in now. She credited young farmers for their hard work in times of need, such as during floods and most recently stewarding at the Covid vaccine clinics.

Afterwards Olive was presented with a birthday cake, made by Gillian Potts, Northern District Vice President, followed by an Afternoon Tea.

Born on May 19 1922, Olive, of Kaker Mill Farm in Preston Patrick near Milnthorpe, has had a life-long commitment to rural issues across Cumbria.

A traditional English oak tree has been planted in recognition of Olive’s birthday and her involvement with The Westmorland County Agricultural Society.

Westmorland County Agricultural Society chief executive Christine Knipe has has known Olive since 1974 and paid tribute to an ‘exceptional lady’ who has lived through ‘exceptional times’. “In the agricultural circles she has been a trailblazer. She was the first female Chairman for the Westmorland Federation of Young Farmers and President of Cumbria Young Farmers in 1980.”

Among her many accolades, probably the rarest, was her direct election to the Fellowship of Royal Agricultural Society.