The Welney Website

The Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard newspapers used to have a regular weekly feature entitled "Getting to know you" in which people who were prominent in their local community were asked to respond to a series of questions.

Here is their choice for the 1st June 2007 issue - a local farmer from a local family, member of many local organisations, and Chairman of Welney Parish Council.

I am grateful to the Cambs Times for permission to post this item on the Welney website.

1 Who are you?

Ken Goodger

2 What do you do?

I'm a farmer of arable land and essential herbs at Welney and Tipps End. This Sunday I will also be hosting Farm Sunday, a fun and information-filled day when visitors will learn much more about the farming business, at Pates Farm, Tipps End, between 10am and 4pm. Entry is free and activities will include a nature trail, farm walk through food and herb fields, and gun dog demonstrations.

3 Why would people know you?

I am chairman of Welney Parish Council and its campaign to avert flooding of the Welney Wash road.

4 On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest) how do your rate your sense of humour?

Nine. I find most things funny and like to introduce humour into most things because you get the point you are making across better.

5 What was your last text message you sent or received?

It was a rude joke from a neighbouring farmer.

6 Give us at least five pet hates.

Over-regulation of farming, food miles, stealth taxes, farm subsidies, NIMBYs.

7 Is it timefor Britain to abolish the Royal Family?

No, definitely not. I feel people come to this country to see Buckingham Palace and people like Prince Charles. And, having met Prince Charles and some of the other members a few times, I have found them to be very pleasant.

8 Are you looking forward to the smoking ban in pubs and why?

Yes, because clothes hung in the wardrobe will no longer smell of stale smoke.

9 What is your favourite item of clothing in your wardrobe, and why?

My John Deere baseball hat. Being rather nostalgic, it reminds me of seven months' work experience in the USA driving a combine across the midwest 25 years ago.

10 Where is the capital of the Fens and why?

Wisbech. As a child, the famous sign welcomed you to Wisbech - Capital of the Fens - and in my house it always will be.

11 Which TV programme sends you to the off button?

Any soap.

12 If you had £1,000 to blow what you would do with it?

Throw a party for all our friends.

13 What football result do you look for first and why?

None. I've never been a sport person.

14 Name a town or country you would never want to return to, and your reasons.

Burkburnet in Texas which, after spending two hours looking for somewhere to have a beer, we discovered it was a dry town. We had walked and walked to find somewhere.

15 Who would you most like to sit next to on an aeroplane and why?

Supermarket buyers, to try to convince them to pay a fair price for UK-produced food to protect food security for this country.

16 Who would you cross the road to avoid?

Street sellers.

17 What is the worst job you have ever had to do?

Grinding frozen cat excrement for Spillers Research in my first job as a lab technician.

18 Who was your childhood hero and why?

Peter Pan, because I never wanted to grow and it is a great story.

19 If you weren't doing your current job, what else might you have chosen?

Research scientist.

20 Your claim to fame.

Being involved in the campaign to stop the unnecessary flooding of the Welney Wash road.

21 What's your biggest regret in life?

Not staying in the USA 25 years ago.

Left and below, Cllr Ken Goodger on the flooded Wash Road in January 2007, wearing his favourite John Deere baseball hat.

Amongst the "other hats" he wears, are those of Trustee of the Marshall's Charity, Trustee of The Bishops Land Charity, and member of Upwell Internal Drainage Board.
(these two photos courtesy of The Cambs Times, photo at top right from the website archives)