70-year-old sleeps on the street
70-year-old sleeps on the street
A 70-year old farmer slept rough outside the Park Lane Hilton Hotel in London before the NFU agm because he couldnt afford to pay for a room.
As many conference delegates and specially invited guests left the hotel after a three-course dinner including salmon mousse and roast beef, Devon farmer Ian Pettyfer settled down for the night on the pavement outside.
Many farmers were unable to afford the high price of accommodation in London he said. But if those travelling a long way did not stay overnight they would miss the beginning of the AGM which starts at 9am. That meant many members would not be able to take part in the decision making process.
Return coach
Mr Pettyfer paid £16 for a return coach ticket from Devon to London. Camping outside on the pavement saved him the cost of a standard hotel room – about £380 at the Hilton and well over £100 at many other London hotels. He said: " I was very, very lucky. It was an unusually warm night and I didnt have to get into my sleeping bag."
NFU deputy director general Ian Gardiner said the union had always held its AGM at the beginning of the second day of the NFU Conference. Many farmers had to travel a long way, he acknowledged, but there were no plans to change the time or venue of the meeting.
Big issue…Ian Pettyfer slept on the street outside the Hilton.