08/06/2023

Elizabeth and Freddie are visiting Brookfield. Freddie enthusiastically describes his DJ gig last night. It went so well the club have asked him back. Freddie assumes Ben enjoyed it too, but Ruth confides in Elizabeth that Ben found it quite overwhelming. Later, Elizabeth suggests to Freddie that by delaying his inheritance, the Lower Loxley trustees have given him space to grow into the role, while working alongside her. Elizabeth urges him to use the time to prove what an asset he can be. David is irritated. The Echo has published a correction clarifying that he owns Brookfield, not Bridge Farm, but gave his age as eighty-two. Elizabeth is more interested in Ruth’s news. She’s been invited to speak on a panel about grass-fed dairy systems at the Agricultural Industries Confederation conference in November. David expresses his surprise and is roundly teased for implying Ruth isn’t capable. Of course she’s capable - and excited to be asked. Justin drops in on Stella at the Bungalow. She tells him she thinks Adam deliberately stitched her up in order to take her place at Home Farm. She’s already consulted an agricultural employment law expert to get advice. Justin isn’t sure that’s the best way forward though. That evening Justin finds Brian working late in the office. He complains that Brian and Adam have forgotten to plant a large field of BL maize. Justin berates Brian for sacking Stella. Home Farm and BL need her expertise. Unless Stella is reinstated, Justin will advise the BL board to terminate Home Farm’s contract.