Our Perfect Lady
Mollie Kelly,co-founder of Kelly Turkeys, passed away on January 5th 2010.
The pioneering chef and farmer, was born in Keighley, West Yorkshire. The daughter of a butcher and farmer, Tom Lund and his wife Amy. Mollie studied at Houghall School of Agriculture in County Durham, which is where she met husband Derek, a fellow student. They married in 1953 and went on to have four children - Lynne, John, Paul(MD of Kellys) and Adam.
In the early years Mollie was often at home, running the farm and family, whilst Derek travelled around Europe advising turkey farming groups.
Mollie`s discerning palate was a major influence on the company`s breeding for flavour policy and her own method of (breast down) roasting a turkey has been adopted by many households cooking the Christmas meal.She was in constant demand, giving cooking demonstrations and talks at food exhibitions and other events across the country.
She did everything from cleaning turkey sheds to meeting the Prime Minister to give him his Christmas turkey. As son Paul has said, " the total devotion she gave to Dad,her children and the turkey industry as a whole, is relected in the success of the company today."
Despite two minor strokes and being forced to use a wheelchair, Mollie continued to attend industry events, enjoying life to the full, including last month`s British Poultry Council ceremony at the House of Commons where Derek received a Distinguished Service Award.
She spent Christmas and New Year with her family and travelled between Essex and Yorkshire. She even entertained, as is tradition, the company staff for lunch on Christmas Eve, at the farm.
She woke on Jan 5th and listened to Radio 4`s Farming Today with Derek. She suffered a heart attack shortly after and died in her own bed, which is exactly as she had always wished.
Paul described it as " the perfect end for the perfect lady".
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