UK dairy legend, John Gribbon lost his battle with health issues on September 8, 2018. John lived a full life that was dedicated to the dairy industry, in particular, the show ring.
John spent his entire life involved in the dairy industry. He worked alongside his father David, who was a herd manager for the Faham Holstein herd in Norfolk. He then managed the Sharcombe herd in Somerset for 12 years, where the herd was award the Gold Cup three times.
He joined Holstein UK in 1992 as a classifier, and went on to be the breed development executive and head classifier for 14 years, up until 2012 when he retired and became a freelance consultant.
He showed and milked cows for over 35 years, winning more than 200 championships at all the major shows in the UK. John also judged more than 150 national Holstein, Jersey, Shorthorn and Brown Swiss shows in the UK.
He is the only judge in the world to have judged both the Black and White and Red and White Holstein shows at the 2010 European Holstein Show in Cremona, Italy.
In 2014, he received the John Dennison Lifetime Achievement Award. Margaret Dennison, wife of the late John Dennison, said this about John, “John Gribbon is a perfect match for the award. It is presented to someone who supports and encourages the next generation, as my husband John himself did. He has all-round ability, and is respected and recognised by fellow members of the industry.”
In 2016, he was a huge supporter of the UK Holstein team that competed at the European Championships in Colmar, France.
John will be remembered for his presence both in and out of the show ring, and will be missed ringside at numerous shows.
The full obituary will be published once available.