THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com  created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

FINDON YOUNG FARMERS OF YESTERYEAR

Copyright Valerie Martin 2008

In June 2008 I received an email from ex-Findonian, Roger Blackwell saying........."Dear Valerie, I thought perhaps you would like to add this to the Findon web site, maybe in the farming section. The late Laurie Moulds [Roger M's father ] was one of the leaders of the local YFC in the late forties. I can't recall the names of all the people in the enclosed photo. perhaps Roger M can!"

Roger then sent more pictorial evidence of events....

Dr, Crock and his Crackpots at Findon Village Hall. In the picture Mrs.
Moulds, Kenneth Ellis, Miss Hucker, Mrs. Long, Margaret Griffin, Mrs. Tugwell,
Cyril Wall, Robin Childs [extreme right]

YFC Camp Site"

Roger Moulds (another ex-Findonian) now of Llandrindod Wells in Powys, emailed...."Worthing Findon YFC......Coo! That photo of Roger Blackwell's certainly brought back a few memories.

I recognise almost all of the faces, but sorry Roger B, I can't name the mystery ones.

I do not remember the photo being taken, but I think it must have been at one of the Country Fairs. The reason I say that is my cousin Pauline is in the picture, and I remember her coming up for it one year, and she taught me to dance at the village Hall in the evening.

I also remember the farming holiday that Roger mentions. Great fun except for potato picking under a red hot sun.

We had other good times, visits to Ford works at Dagenham to see their tractors being made, the Dunlop factory to see tyres being made, Harris bacon factory at Calne to see bacon being made (very disappointing, no tasters), the Royal and other Agricultural shows, when we collected tons of leaflets about tractors, combines, cars, balers etc., etc. Great fun."

Roger Blackwell then appeared with his last photograph..... .."Another event in the Worthing and Findon YFC calendar was the Plough Sunday service.

This photo taken in the lower part of Church Drive has John Stevens carrying the banner, whilst pulling the plough are John Arnott, Roger Moulds, Geoffrey [ ? ], Roger Blackwell, Bill Maple and John Rose. Guiding the plough is John Hartstone, followed by Mr. Moulds, Mr. Heath and other Club members.

My memories of this event was wearing a well-starched white coat. I think the white coats could possibly stand up by themselves . . . but didn't we all look smart!

This day must have been quite cold as we are all wearing gloves!

Blessing the Plough is normally carried out after Twelfth Night (6thJanuary) in the cathedral cities of Chichester and Exeter. I believe the one at Chichester was revived in early March of this year.

Valerie....I have exhausted my supply of YFC photos - this is the last one . Kindest regards from Roger B".

Roger Moulds emailed...."YFC.....Thanks Roger for the pictures. All our family photos were lost many years ago under unfortunate circumstances. My mother was killed in a car crash shortly after she moved to Cornwall, and I have few pictures of her, so it was great to see her at the opening ceremony of a function which she worked so hard at to get off the ground.

The lady from Doctor Crackpots, seen at the microphone, was later bitten by a piglet. The piglet was the prize in a skittles competition, she went to give it a cuddle and it bit her, which was a shame really, because the band had really turned it on for us that afternoon.

I remember that Plough Sunday, it was very cold, and I beleive that it had snowed a day or two before the event. The white coats had to be almost levered open, they were so starchy. John Hartstone later married Sally Maple from North End."
 

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.