A long-serving treasurer of Norfolk Farm Machinery Club, Cliff Vertigan, has died aged 89 at his Fakenham home after a long illness.

He held the financial reins at a time of great uncertainty when the loss of support from Norfolk County Council threatened the club's survival in the middle of the 1990s.

His insistence on maintaining adequate reserves and adopting a prudent approach ensured that NORMAC, which was formed in March 1946, continues to thrive to this day.

Mr Vertigan, who was also chairman of NORMAC in 1977, was elected honorary vice-president in recognition of his services as treasurer over three decades.

He was a founder member of the Holt Centre or club, which was started with work colleague Malcolm Greves in 1969. Mr Vertigan, who served several terms as chairman, was elected president by fellow Holt members in 1979.

He had joined agricultural machinery company, Kongskilde UK, which had opened at Holt in the early 1960s, to take charge of the stores. He retired after a quarter of a century's service as warehouse manager. Earlier he had worked at for agricultural engineers Wigg & Plowright at Fakenham.

Mr Vertigan was an enthusiast for inter-centre events, especially the popular 'fault-finding' challenges which involves teams of members scrutinising machinery and tractors for problems and mistakes. The Fakenham and later Holt centres held competitions and he suggested that they should be extended to include members from across the county.

He always supported Holt's highly-successful ploughing marathons, which raised thousands for local good causes and concerns, over the years. Later he transferred to Fakenham Centre.

He had been in declining health for some years.

He leaves a widow, Stella.

A funeral service will be held at Mintlyn Crematorium, King's Lynn, on Tuesday, July 12, at 11.30am.

Michael Pollitt