HEREFORDSHIRE landowner and county figure, Sir John Cotterell, who died at the age of 82 before Christmas, was a modest man with a strong sense of public duty.

Maybe less well-known was the 6th baronet’s great relish for reality TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Great British Bake Off.

Sir John succeeded to the baronetcy upon the death of his father, Sir Richard Cotterell in 1978.

Following a funeral service at Byford before Christmas, a memorial service for Sir John is to be held in Hereford Cathedral on Thursday, March 1 at 2.30pm.

Born in London in 1935, he was brought up at Garnons and later Byford Court – the family seat was requisitioned during the war years.

He went to Eton and served in the Royal Horse Guards at Windsor, and in Knightsbridge as part of the Household Cavalry’s mounted regiment for ceremonial duties. He also served in Cyprus.

In 1959 he married Alexandra Bridgewater and the couple had four children: Harry, who inherits the baronetcy, Milly, Jim and Dave, and 12 grandchildren.

Sir John and Lady Cotterell, who died in 2005, were committed supporters of the Young Farmers’ movement both in Herefordshire and nationally and he was national president from 1986 – 1991.

For 25 years he served as a county councillor, firstly for the old Herefordshire County Council and after reorganisation for Hereford and Worcester County Council.

In the late 1970s he founded Radio Wyvern, now Free Radio and was the first chairman until it was sold in the mid 1990s.

Sir John was on the board of Welsh Water and when the Mappa Mundi came under threat in 1988 he was appointed chairman of the trustees of the cathedral treasure, with a brief to raise funds to build the new library.

Sir John negotiated the minefield of church and heritage politics to keep the Mappa Mundi in Hereford.

He had a devotion to National Hunt Racing, and in his younger days rode in point to points.

He was a steward at Hereford, Cheltenham, Ascot, Ludlow and Wolverhampton and was on the disciplinary committee of the Jockey Club.

Cricket was another passion, and Sir John had an enduring love of agriculture and maintained an interest in the farm at Garnons up until his death.

At his funeral there was praise for his neighbour, Lyn Compton, who looked after after him and organised dinner parties for Sir John at his home.

His son, now Sir Harry, informed mourners at the funeral how his father had a great love for TV programmes such as Strictly and Bake Off!