JUST MONTHS AFTER STEPPING DOWN, ALAN FORD’S LIFE ENDED IN A TRAGIC FARM ACCIDENT ALONGSIDE HIS SON

The 72-year-old former Cheshire Agricultural Society chairman and his 42-year-old son Rick had spent years at the heart of the farming community

Just months after stepping away from one of the most respected leadership roles in Cheshire’s agricultural community, Alan Ford’s life came to a devastating end alongside his son.

Alan Ford, 72, and his son Rick Ford, 42, died following a tragic incident at a farm in Aston-by-Budworth, near Northwich, on Wednesday, August 26.

Emergency services were called to the farm on Cann Lane at around 12:20 p.m. after reports of an industrial incident involving two men and a large agricultural tank.

Firefighters, police officers and ambulance crews rushed to the scene.

Despite extensive rescue efforts, both men were recovered from the tank but were pronounced dead at the scene.

Cheshire Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding what happened, while the Health and Safety Executive has also been involved in examining the incident.

But for the people of Cheshire, this was not simply a tragic farm accident.

It was the loss of a father and son who had spent years building their lives around the agricultural community they loved.

ALAN HAD ONLY RECENTLY STEPPED AWAY

For years, Alan Ford was one of the familiar figures behind the Cheshire Agricultural Society and the Royal Cheshire County Show.

His involvement stretched well beyond simply holding a title.

He became chairman and director of the society, helping lead an organization deeply connected to the farming traditions and rural communities of Cheshire.

Then, in April 2026, Alan stepped down from those positions.

He had finally retired from the leadership role he had held for years.

But the Ford family’s connection to the society did not end there.

His son Rick had served as a director for several years, continuing the family’s longstanding involvement in the organization.

Together, father and son had become closely associated with one of the region’s most important agricultural institutions.

And now, only months after Alan’s retirement, the community was mourning both of them.

“THE FORD FAMILY HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY”

News of the tragedy sent shockwaves through the Cheshire agricultural community.

The Cheshire Agricultural Society announced the deaths with a statement expressing “profound sadness.”

The organization described Alan as its past chairman and remembered Rick as a director who had served for several years.

The society also highlighted the wider Ford family’s contribution, saying they had worked tirelessly for the organization over many years.

Both father and son, it said, would be deeply missed by everyone who knew them.

The message ended with thoughts, sympathy and prayers for their family during what it described as an extremely difficult time.

The reaction reflected something bigger than the loss of two individuals.

For many people in Cheshire, the Ford name had become part of the fabric of the agricultural community.

A NORMAL DAY TURNED INTO A TRAGEDY

The incident unfolded around lunchtime on August 26.

At approximately 12:20 p.m., emergency services were called to the farm on Cann Lane in Aston-by-Budworth.

The exact circumstances leading to the incident have not been publicly established.

What is known is that Alan and Rick ended up inside an industrial tank at the farm.

Emergency crews worked to recover the two men.

But despite their efforts, neither could be saved.

Cann Lane was temporarily closed as emergency services dealt with the incident. The families were informed, and police later confirmed that an investigation was underway to establish exactly what had happened.

WHY THESE FARM TANKS CAN BE SO DANGEROUS

The incident has also drawn attention to the hidden dangers that can exist around agricultural waste and slurry systems.

Slurry tanks are used to collect and store agricultural waste before it can be handled or used as fertilizer.

The environment inside and around such tanks can be extremely hazardous.

As organic material breaks down, gases including methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide can accumulate.

At dangerous concentrations, these gases can cause someone to become unconscious extremely quickly.

Safety experts have repeatedly warned that attempting to rescue someone from a slurry or similar confined environment without the correct equipment can place additional lives at risk.

However, authorities have not publicly established exactly how Alan and Rick came to fall into the tank or what work they were carrying out at the time.

Those details remain part of the investigation.

A FATHER AND SON — LOST TOGETHER

Perhaps the most heartbreaking element of the tragedy is the fact that Alan and Rick were not simply connected through the same organization.

They were family.

Father and son had both dedicated years to the agricultural world, with Rick following in his father’s footsteps through his involvement with the Cheshire Agricultural Society.

Their professional and community lives had become intertwined.

And now, the same community that had watched the Ford family contribute for years is facing the painful reality of losing them both at once.

The Cheshire Agricultural Society has asked people to keep the family in their thoughts, while relatives have requested privacy as they grieve.

THE QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN

For now, many details surrounding the incident remain unanswered.

What exactly happened inside the tank?

Why did the two men fall?

What work were they carrying out?

And were there any safety issues that investigators need to examine?

Those questions are expected to form part of the ongoing investigation by Cheshire Police and workplace safety authorities.

Officials have not suggested that the incident was anything other than a tragic accident, and no further conclusions should be drawn until the investigation is complete.

But for the people who knew Alan and Rick, the investigation cannot change the deepest reality of what happened.

A respected community figure who had only recently stepped away from years of leadership was suddenly gone.

And his son, who had continued the family’s connection to Cheshire agriculture, was gone with him.

A LEGACY THAT WILL REMAIN

Alan Ford spent years helping shape an organization that celebrates Cheshire’s farming heritage.

Rick continued that work as a director.

Their names became associated with service, agriculture and a community that brought generations of families together.

Now, the Cheshire agricultural community is left remembering them not simply as chairman and director, but as a father and son who shared the same world, the same passion and the same family legacy.

Alan had stepped down from his leadership role only months earlier.

But the impact of his years of service did not end when he left the chairman’s seat.

And neither did the Ford family’s place in the community.

Alan and Rick Ford may be gone, but the years they gave to Cheshire agriculture — and the memories they left behind — will continue to live on.