THE chairman of the Kent Men of the Trees, Joe Hull, has died suddenly at the age of 72. Mr Hull, of Trottiscliffe Road, Addington, near West Malling, had a profound love for the countryside, which began when he was evacuated from his childhood home in Lewisham, south London, during the Second World War.

Mr Hull had been chairman of the Kent Men of the Trees, a voluntary organisation which aims to promote awareness of trees, particularly among the young, since 1994.

In the 1970s and 1980s, he helped present the former Radio Medway's farming programme, moving on to compile, edit and present live broadcasts for BBC Radio 4's Farming Today.

Mr Hull leaves a widow, Helen, and two sons, David and Michael. His funeral takes place at St Margaret's Church, Addington, on Monday, December 17.