Farm owner’s son Chris Spence reveals the extraordinary story behind his parents’ Oxbury introduction
Geoff Spence, the owner of the Miresdale dairy and Lowfield dairy farm on which it is based, was looking for some new investment to take his business to the next level. He had tried his existing bank but was having trouble reaching the people who could help.
After a busy stretch on the farm, his wife convinced him to take a short hob liday with her to the Lake District.
Chris explained, “we’d been really busy on the farm and my mum was ready for a little holiday. So was my dad, really, but it’s hard to get him to take time off.
“So we secretly arranged for a long weekend in the Lake District for them and my dad eventually agreed.
“One evening on their way to a restaurant, my mum suggested stopping off at a local pub for a drink before dinner. It was quite busy but my dad struck up a conversation with one couple about their dogs. They invited my mum and dad to join them, and they got chatting.
“While they were reminiscing, my dad asked the man what he did for a living. ‘I’ve just started up an agricultural bank,’ he said. ‘What about you?’
“‘I’m a dairy farmer,’ said my dad, ‘and I could do with a new bank.’
It turns out the man was James Farrar, co-founder and CEO of Oxbury Bank, who had also chosen the Lakes for a short break.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time because we were desperate to invest in the farm but it was difficult getting to speak to the right people at our existing bank.
“Within a couple of weeks, James had come over to our farm to look at our business. He loved what we were doing and could see what we were trying to achieve and it went from there.
“And so if it wasn’t for that meeting in the pub – if my mum hadn’t fancied a glass of wine before dinner – we wouldn’t be where we are now.
“Investment from Oxbury has transformed our business and made us so sustainable. And it’s such a nice bank to work with because the people are friendly, they understand agriculture and are very switched on. It’s like a dream really.”