The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) is standing in mourning with the family of Josephine “Mavis” Drayton who for many years was the farm tenant of the Reading Festival site at Little John’s Farm on the banks of the River Thames in Reading.

Following a short illness, Mavis passed away at the beginning of July in the presence of her family.

Mavis had taken on the farm tenancy of Little John’s Farm in 1997 following her father Desmond who had been the tenant of the farm since the 1950s, so her association with the iconic festival site goes back an extremely long way.

TFA Chief Executive, George Dunn, said: “Mavis had a passion for the farm, a love for the flora and fauna supported by it and of course a heart for the festival. Managing such an important site 365 days each year brings its challenge, not least in the period leading up to and just after over 85,000 people are welcomed onto the site to enjoy an eclectic mix of music and other festival highlights. However, Mavis always sought to work as pragmatically as possible to ensure that the tradition of the festival could take place whilst allowing a working farm to operate. It will be heartbreaking for the family as the festival comes back to the Little John’s Farm this weekend for Mavis not to be there in the background. We would like every festival goer to know and understand the work that Mavis put into the site over many years.”

Currently, Mavis’s niece Sally Lempriere, who had worked with Mavis over many years is looking after the farm until decisions are made about its future.

“Mavis is irreplaceable. Her strong spirit and her ability to call a spade a spade were her hallmarks. She has certainly left her mark on Little John’s Farm and on the community which still relies upon it. It is difficult to believe that she has gone given what a strong and vibrant presence she was and I hope that I will be able to do justice to her legacy,” said Sally.