Two of a kind

Life on a mixed farm in East Sussex was originally made up of a predominantly blue fleet for Matt Butler’s father – with Ford 4000s, a 4600 and a 5600 used before a couple of two-wheel drive ‘Rubik’s cube’ 6610s became the staple diet.

Some of these tractors Matt remembers, and actually drove, but it all changed when a two-wheel drive John Deere 3050 arrived. These tractors worked the beans, rape, barley and wheat that were grown, as well as tending to the suckler herd.

Showing great mechanical ability led Matt to be asked to become a John Deere-trained agricultural apprentice with Palmers of Lower Dicker, Hailsham, East Sussex. David Palmer had successfully been the Golden Cross depot manager for