A FARMER who lived a simple life with his two sheepdogs ensured that the animals would have a good home when he died - by leaving them and his 18th century farmhouse to an agricultural engineer.

In his will Bernard Holmes left Snowy and Blackie and the £500,000 Lime Kiln Farm, at Amotherby, to the man who had never let him down in more than 42 years.

Agricultural engineer Tony Fisher helped keep the 112-acre farm running smoothly and always turned out quickly to repair farming equipment. Mr Holmes was one of many local farmers who relied on Tony and his son, Neil, who live in the Wolds village of Fridaythorpe.

Mr Holmes died suddenly, age 70, from a stroke, and Mr Fisher was gob-smacked when a solicitor phoned to say: "You have been left Snowy and Blackie."

There was a pause, then the solicitor informed him of the rest of the bequest - that he had been left the 18th century farmhouse, the land and a flock of 69 sheep, to keep the dogs fit.

After recovering from the news Mr Fisher, 64, and his wife Gwen, 60, found a note from Mr Holmes in the farmhouse. It said simply: "Keep the farm and give the dogs a good home."

Mr Fisher said: "Shock would be an understatement. It was totally unexpected. He was a customer, an employer. He'd call me when he needed a tractor or a harvester serviced or repaired - sometimes in an emergency when he was harvesting. I always called him 'boss', never by his Christian name.

"He was a good employer, a lonely man who lived for his farm and his animals. He'd be in the fields at 5am and often in bed at 6pm in the winter."

Mr and Mrs Fisher are having the farmhouse completely renovated and plan to move in later in the year.

"I never thought I'd become a farmer, but I'm already enjoying the life while Neil continues with the family business," said Mr Fisher.

Experts have valued the rich farmland at £5,000 an acre. Mr Fisher said: "I've had several offers, but there is no way I'd sell. I owe that to boss and Snowy and Blackie."

Updated: 10:55 Thursday, July 08, 2004