Getting personal: ‘Bermudiana Jones’ a true son of the soil

Tom Wadson has dedicated his life to agriculture. He started up Wadson’s Farm in 1976 and now looks after 40 acres using traditional and organic methods. He is never afraid to stand up for his livelihood and has clashed with Government recently over its commitment to the industry. But Mr Wadson has a softer side too – he is a proud father of two daughters and a son, enjoys his sparkling water and says he would have probably ended up going to sea if he had not gone into farming. Interview and photo by Simon Jones.

Your earliest memory?  The kitchen table collapsing with ALL the best dishes getting broken….. ouch

What were you like in school? 

Close to the bottom of the class all term and then close to the top in exams. That was probably pretty frustrating for my parents

Your hero/heroine? 

I have been really fortunate to have some great mentors from a very young age. They included my Mother, Father, Teddy Stowe, Bert Darrell, Bob Derector and Herbert Williams to name a few. I have a lot of heroes

Which human trait do you dislike the most? 

Laziness

Human traits you value most in others? 

Passion and compassion

Which film character would you be? 

Bermudiana Jones

Your greatest fear?  Something bad happening to my children

Property aside, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought? 

A lot of farm machinery.

Your ultimate ambition?

To have the farm I have created continue to operate after I am done

Your most unappealing habit? 

Smoking

Describe yourself in three words: 

Fairly laid back

Best party you’ve ever been to?

A birthday party organized for my surviving 50 years. 

The Maitre D’ figured it would be a quiet little affair. He soon realized after seeing who was coming through the door that it was going to be anything but that!

Worst job you’ve ever done? 

Shovelling wet chicken manure out from under a pile of caged layers. They do their thing very often…

Biggest disappointment? 

The continued lack of support of agriculture by the powers that be in Bermuda

Biggest regret? 

Not doing the Trans Atlantic challenge on the 185’ schooner ‘Adix’. We could have won it.

What animal would you be and why? 

Some very wealthy lady’s dog. I could use a bit of pampering right now.

What do you do if you can’t sleep? 

Do a day’s work and it is never a problem

If you had a time machine, where would you go? 

Bermuda, late 1800s.  Then I would have been a privateer

Best advice you have ever taken? 

Never give up

If you weren’t a farmer, what would you be? 

I probably would have gone to sea

What’s your attitude to money?  

Another tool, just like a tractor or a hoe

Nicest thing anyone has ever said to you? 

“Please keep growing good food” 

Most treasured possession? 

My health

A dream location for a home? 

Luke’s Pond Road in Southampton

Guilty pleasure? 

Sparkling water.

Name some favourite:

— TV shows/TV series.  Bermuda Weather. It is a critical part of my life

— Movies:  The Help

— Books:  Steaming to Bamboola

— Vacation spots: The West Indies. Bequia & St. Barths

Your attitude to exercise?

I get a lot farming everyday

Your proudest achievement?  

My children. They are loving, caring, smart and kind

Pet peeve? 

The thought that vehicle horns are some sort of social media

Most daring thing you’ve ever done? 

There are a few choices here; starting farming. climbing a Jacob’s ladder off a damaged boat in the middle of nowhere in a gale – twice – and mountain rescue in Scotland

What would you most like to be remembered for?

 Being fiercely Bermudian 

Most important lesson life has taught you?

Take risks and love our fellow humans. Never give up.