The People

John Seymour, Will Sutherland and Angela Sutherland

The Killowen smallholding was created in 1981 by John Seymour and Angela Ashe. A regular series of summer courses was started in 1993. After John's death at the age of 90 in 2004, Will and Angela Sutherland continue to run courses at Killowen on the many and various topics covered by the Complete Book.    

John Seymour     (born in 1914- died 2004) As soon as John's schooling was complete he left England to live in Africa where he worked as a veterinary office, miner and fisherman. During the second world war he fought in Ethiopia and Burmah.

After the war John returned to England where he lived and worked on a sailing barge before becoming a smallholder, writer and broadcaster.    His initial experiences are vividly described in his book "The Fat of the Land".  His distinctive way of life soon became a magnet for people interested in an alternative lifestyle including such visionary thinkers as Leopold Kohr and E F Schumacher..     In 1981 he decided to "retire" and moved to Ireland to start a new life.    Together with Angela Ashe (now Angela Sutherland) he created the Killowen smallholding and produced many books and films, including several documentaries for the BBC.     

 Will Sutherland      Born in 1945, Will grew up on a traditional mixed farm in Northumberland.     After taking a BA degree at Cambridge , he took a Diploma in Farm Management and MSc in Agricultural Economics before moving to Whitehall as a civil servant.    His 10 years in public service included spells in the Department of the Environment, the Treasury and Westminster City Council; Will then joined Ernst and Young as a Management Consultant.    

Will followed his interest in the political process by attending the Rio Earth summit in 1992 and afterwards editing and publishing the NGO Alternative Treaties.   In 1991 Will met John and Angela and decided to leave London to help run the Killowen smallholding and later to marry Angela.     Will worked with John and Angela on a number of projects including the "New Complete Book of Self Sufficiency" and the continuing teaching of "self sufficiency".  

Angela Sutherland comes from a large Irish family, was born in Dublin and spent most of her childhood in Birmingham. She met John whilst working on his farm where she rapidly became an expert at managing all aspects of farming. With a strong interest in literature and art Angela soon became an invaluable source of support and research for John's writing. And this role continued to develop whilst the Killowen smallholding was being established. Angela now runs the household at Killowen and home educates her two children, Roisin and Liam.