A farmer was trampled to death when he climbed into a pen housing 17 uncastrated bulls, an inquest jury heard today. Oliver Bowden, 56, who was described as “the heart and soul of the Hambleden Valley”, suffered fatal multiple injuries, including crushing to the chest and abdomen. An inquest jury at Beaconsfield heard that Mr Bowden, whose family had farmed the land at Mill End Farm since the 1930s, died in the afternoon of 5 May last year. The father of four, who had two grandchildren, was found in the pen by colleague Samuel Beer. He was injured himself as he bravely fought off a bull as he tried to help Mr Bowden.