Not a Toff - Jim Cockburn
Not a Toff is the unforgettable story of Lord Donald Curry – a Northumberland hill farmer who rose to the House of Lords, advised prime ministers, and worked alongside King Charles III, yet never lost touch with his roots.
From milking cows in the Coquet Valley to chairing government commissions in Westminster, Curry’s life has been shaped by grit, humility, and faith. At the height of agricultural crises such as BSE, he became the trusted voice of Britain’s farmers, defending rural communities in their darkest hours. In a landmark court case, his expert testimony even helped clear a major estate of wrongful charges, earning respect for his straight-talking honesty and deep knowledge of farming life.
But this is no tale of privilege. Despite his title, Curry is not – and never has been – a “toff.” Those who know him best describe a man of compassion, resilience, and unwavering humility, guided by Christian values and a fierce commitment to serving others.
With warmth and candour, Not a Toff shares the triumphs and tragedies of a life rooted in the soil yet lived on the national stage. It reveals how one farmer’s faith and determination carried him from rural Northumberland to the corridors of power – without ever forgetting where he came from.
Inspiring, down-to-earth, and deeply human, this is the story of an extraordinary man who proves that true influence comes not from status, but from service.