Episode 34

Episode 34: Against the Odds: Tom's Story

Recorded during Mental Health Awareness week, I talk to Tom Johnston who experienced depression and a series of mental health issues as he took his first steps into agricultural engineering, a career that he had always dreamed off.

For a 'tractor-mad' boy, he never wanted to do anything else, but several twists and turns resulted in set-backs, until he decided to return to college after a couple of experiences with dealers were blighted by his mental state.

A chance opportunity, resulted in a job on a golf course. He immediately connected with the turfcare industry and has recently started his own repair business.

He says that mental doubts and uncertainties still lie under the surface, but urges those with similar symptoms not to hide them, but to speak out. Tell everyone that's "Its OK not to be OK" he says

WEBSITE: Inside Agri-Turf

WEBSITE: LE-TEC (Landbased Engineering and Training Education Committee)

CONTACT: chris.biddle@btinternet.com

About the Podcast

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INSIDE AGRI-TURF
The farm and grass machinery business

About your host

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Chris Biddle

Chris is an experienced journalist specialising in the farm and grass machinery market. He has worked for a major tractor manufacturer and been a managing director of a farm and grass machinery dealership in the West Country.
In 1988, he launched trade magazine, Service Dealer followed by TurfPro in 1998, selling both titles to Land Power Publications in 2015.
He was editor of Landwards, the professional journal of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) from 2008 until 2019 and is the recipient of the 2020 IAgrE Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Land-Based industry.
Chris lives in Salisbury with his wife Trish, and is an avid cricket fan and member of the MCC for over 55 years.