Tributes have poured in for a long-serving Royal Welsh Show steward, shearing expert, and well-loved member of the community in Powys.
Estyn Bufton, who was widely loved and respected figure in the Welsh sheep shearing community has sadly passed away leading to tributes from the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society and from members of the community in Presteigne.
Known to many as ‘Buff’, he began working stewarding at the Royal Welsh show over 40 years ago in 1981.
He then went onto be a member of the shearing committee in 1994 before going to be the manager of the Welsh Shearing team at the World shearing Championships in 2003.
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Last year he was awarded an Honorary Life Membership of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society for his decades of “exceptional service”.
The Royal Welsh Agricultural society released a statement paying tribute to a “warm” and “laid back” figure.
A spokesperson for the society said: “The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mr Estyn Bufton.
“Estyn, known in the shearing world as ‘Buff’, began stewarding for the Royal Welsh in 1981 before joining the Shearing Committee in 1994.
“Estyn was the Welsh Team manager for the World Championships held in Scotland in 2003 and last year was awarded an Honorary Life Membership of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society for his exceptional service to the society and shearing industry.
“In the shearing section, he led a small army of stewards whose duties included wool packing and the handling and presenting of shorn lambs to the judges.
“Estyn will be fondly remembered for his laid-back manner and warm friendly attitude behind the scenes of the shearing stage. Our heartfelt condolences go to his family and friends.”
Ohers online have shared their memories of him describing him as a “real gentleman” and as “a great man who will be sorely missed, he'd had a full life, each and every one of us has a brilliant memory of him.”
Shearing Sports Wales in post on Facebook said: “It is with great sadness that we share with you, the very sad news of the passing of Estyn Bufton” adding that he would be “dearly missed”.
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