TRIBUTES have poured in for a ‘highly respected’ Bassenthwaite farmer who was tragically killed after an accident involving a quad bike on his farm.

Martyn Mawson, 52, a beef and sheep farmer of High Side Farm at the foot of Skiddaw, was believed to have died at the scene after the quad bike accident on Sunday.

A shocked farming community listened on Sunday night as Adam Day, managing director of The Farmer Network, based in Penrith, dedicated two songs in his nightly live performance on Facebook.

“A close friend of the family told me just ten minutes before I was due to play and sing live, and I felt I had to say something and play a couple of songs as a dedication to a man who will be sorely missed by the whole farming community,” said Adam, one of five members of the popular county band, the Soul Survivors, who decided to take to social media during the pandemic to help boost friends’ spirits.

“Martyn always had a smile on his face, and wasn’t afraid to try out new things,” added Adam.

Ireby farmer’s wife Betty Graham said she had known Mr Mawson from the Young Farmers movement. “He was Northern District chairman in the Young Farmers, and I was secretary and we used to travel to meetings together. He was a friend to everyone and an excellent stocksman. He ran a B&B on the farm and would make people very welcome.”

Mr Mawson was also a trustee of the prestigious Blamire Trust and an non-executive director of Mitchell’s Auction Mart at Cockermouth since March 2018.

Chairman, fellow farmer, and regional branch manager at Carrs Billington, Ian Powley, knew Mr Mawson for many years. “I knew him as a fellow farmer, but I got to know him best as a good customer of Carrs Billington at Cockermouth and as a fellow trustee for the Blamire Trust.

“Martyn was an excellent stocksman and hosted Grassland Society visits, in particular the Isle of Man Grassland Society. The farm is a most beautiful place, the views are spectacular.

“Martyn came over as someone who enjoyed life, but he was also a thinker. He would come up with names of recipients for the Blamire Medal that we would never think of, and then we would say ‘why did we miss that person’. He will be a big miss,” said Mr Powley.

Mr Mawson leaves a wife, Corinne and two sons.