T John Vaughan (OH 1954-1958)
Monday 14 December 2020
from Hereford TimesLong-time Hereford cattle enthusiast T John Vaughan of Vorn Herefords in Bodenham had been due to celebrate his 78th birthday in January 2021, but was admitted to the Covid ward in Hereford County Hospital after feeling unwell in recent weeks, where he died on December 4, the Hereford Cattle Society said.His family had a long association with the breeding of Hereford cattle, and came to great prominence during the 1970s and 80s, dominating shows, main-centre sales and highly successful on-farm events.The genetics raised spread around the cattle-breeding world. John, supported by his parents Donald and Marjorie and other family members and helpers, was noted for the excellence of the presentation of their charges. But it was the subsequent success of the successive generations of breeding that still brings the herds of Moor and Vorn to significant prominence.After spending some time farming in Western Australia, where other family members also reside, John returned to Bodenham and commenced breeding Texel sheep. He went about this task with similar verve, vigour and vision to that employed with the Herefords. As a result, his Vorn flock is noted for its sound commercial attributes and very much dominates the top performers within the breed.However, as well as sheep farming, studying horse racing and offering opinions on many other facets of life, during recent years John spent many hours studying the path of the Hereford breed from before its existence to the present generations."Fortunately, John was satisfied he had completed his project before illness set-in and instructed the printers to produce his book, ‘The Hereford: the greatest breed on earth’, a large tome packed with facts, accounts and images. But more than most such works, this one certainly has the feel of being compiled by a true practitioner.Details, events and characters are brought to life to celebrate this influential bovine race. As a history, it is packed with facts, challenged with opinion but all composed in such a way that from start to finish, it is a very entertaining read," a spokesperson for the Hereford Cattle Society said."Of all of John's lifelong activities and achievements of being a stockbreeder, an influencer, a character, this incredible account could easily be the area that most of all secures his place in history. Previously published works of John include Rampages, a sheep-based cartoon collection and Bovine Showbiz, a no-nonsense account of the work involved in raising cattle for sale and exhibition."Everyone who has a connection with Hereford cattle, livestock in general or his homeland county of Herefordshire and the Welsh border region, will find benefit from taking-in the current scribing of the author. Few people leave such a masterpiece. T John Vaughan certainly has."