With the growing interest in programmes such as “Who Do You Think You Are?”, where we all watch glued to the TV as researchers unveil the quite often scandalous past of some well known celebrity, I decided to take a look back at my heritage . My sister had used the services of a genealogist some years earlier, the result of which  was a beautifully bound book  detailing the past 200 years of the Todd family.  Unfortunately  we did not stumble across some wealthy entrepreneur type or landed gentry, but it would appear we descended from a long line of Carmen – sometimes driving coaches, but predominantly dust carts.

That side of the family tree depleted, I decided to look into the Todd name. It seems that it’s origins are most definitely Scottish, and it’s derivatives of the word Tod, Todde or Tode, meaning fox.  In fact the crest shows a fox running away with a goose in his mouth — which makes the motto even more meaningful -  Oporter Vivere -  which translates roughly into “One Must Live”.

Reflecting upon my new discovery, I couldn’t help but smile.  Its a fact that there is no inherited wealth through my lineage, no figures of great Intellect or influence – just generation after generation of people who worked hard, quite often at the lowest end of the employment  ladder – not a blue collar in sight! And that wiley old fox as the motto says – just had to do what he had to do, to get by!

We would like to take this opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to all of our customers and suppliers. Just over a year ago we decided to take a chance and change our working lives. After forty four years of depot based life, we moved to an office environment and altered the way we worked. Your support has enabled us to complete our first year more successfully than we could have hoped. To all of you who have borne with us through the teething problems and changes we have encountered, your loyalty and consideration is very much appreciated. To our suppliers both of product and services your efforts and understanding have been of great help in achieving the transition. We now approach 2011 with much less trepidation and look forward to continuing our long standing relationships with you all. Thank you.

You may have seen from our website that we have become involved over the past year with a charity  based in Tunbridge Wells which focuses on providing hot meals for the homeless in the area.  We have decided this year to donate fifty packs of thermal socks gloves, scarves, fleeces and blankets, which we are told will be greatly appreciated during the winter Season. We would like to take this opportunity to thank William White Meats and Hugo who have continued to support  this  worthy cause throughout the year - your assistance is much appreciated.

Named after his birth date, Christopher Robin Holliday entered this world in on Christmas Eve,1946. Chris started his working life in the pet food industry.

Then in 1964 he joined Mayhew Brothers in poultry processing, which proved to be the majority of his working life and also his forte.

The 1960’s with its motorbikes, mods and lambrettas also proved to be an enduring passion. I had the good fortune to work with Chris for twelve years, when he joined Todd’s in 1996.  His work ethic was legendary.

He was up early most days walking the market, white coat flapping,  dashing down the aisles of Smithfield, handing out Kit Kats and asking  ‘would a penny do’, only to return to the office always slightly out of breath (hence the nickname Huffy), to work late into the evening. He was not a child of the computer era -  he was old school. A trader with a mind and memory, whose only desire was to trade poultry. Paperwork held no interest.

Never was he happier than when bidding on and being served on a volume of poultry that had to be sold into a fiercely competitive and volatile market. Persistent Chris saw the sale of products as a matter of honour. On hearing that we may have purchased more product than we required, off would come the tie and out would come his treasured contacts book. The ‘buzz’ which he eminated when faced with such a challenge, was tangible. Chris retired from Todd’s in October 2008 – a one off – irreplaceable. Chris the man then began what proved to be a short but extremely happy retirement.

He died on the morning of 6th November 2010, released from the agonies of the brain tumour that so cruelly afflicted him. A true gentleman of the trade has passed.

BY ROBERT TODD