Peggy Tillyer, Transcript 2, Part 1

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Peggy Tillyer   Trans 2  CH1  Duration: 6:15

Photo 18 PT018

Ok so let’s have a look at this lovely coloured photograph. What can you tell me about this one?

It’s taken at Ashurst drift in 1986 and is actually, err, my husband and father-in-law and brother in law.  On the left is Brian Tillyer, he ran New Forest ponies and got the Sprattsdown prefix on that.  The centre one is father in law to me Cecil Tillyer and he used the Blackwell prefix.  On the right is Brian’s elder brother, Maurice Tillyer and he had the Williford prefix.

Photo 19 PT019

Ok on to the photo with the Queen.

Now, (in audible).  This is a picture of the Queen being driven down through the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive, on her, what was it, 700th anniversary, 900th year celebration [of the New Forest], umm, and the Queen visited and was driven through the Forest some of it being down the Ornamental Drive.  It’s not in that picture and I can’t remember where I’ve got it, I’m sure I’ve got it somewhere or other, but we were asked to take a mare and foal, and the thing was in April and there were very few foals being born by April, but this mare had actually had her foal and we took her, the mare and foal and stood by the side of the road in Rhinefield Drive and we always laughed because when the Queen actually noted the mare she, she sort of elbowed Prince Phillip and said “Look” (laughs).

That was 1979.

That was 1979 April 1979.

Photo 20 PT020

So on to the seedling fir photo?

This was the Commoners Defence team.  We were allowed by the Forestry Commission, the Commoners Defence were given permission to do some clearing of fir tree seedlings and any scrub area where the seedlings were coming through at a vast rate.  This particular one is between Longdown and the back of Decoy Pond Farm and it all happened in the winter of 1979-1980.  We were given permission as I say because it was a little bit doing the work of the Forestry Commission and could have been a little bit techy about it, but they gave us permission and in various parts of the Forest these clearances were carried out, I’ve got a few of the names, err, family, myself and sister in law Dorita Tillyer, father in law Cecil Tillyer, Mike Eccles and umm, and also Stuart Harding, Mrs Pat Dunning and her son [Stephen], Mr Len Mansbridge, and Mr Readhead, but I’m not sure which one cause I haven’t made a note because I didn’t know which one it was, but it was one of the Mr Readhead’s.  I also see in the picture who I now know to be Mr Bill Jones who was the umm, father of Terry Jones the Agister.

And this is the chap in the coat with the…

Light coat.

In the front with the light coloured coat and cap on. 

Photo 21 PT021

So on to the picture at the New Forest Show.  Can you just tell me about that one.

This is in the Commoners Defence stand and again shows the Tillyers’ (laughs) we’ve got on the left of picture is Maurice Tillyer, and in the centre Cecil, father Cecil, on the right Brian Tillyer.  The point of the picture being, Cecil Tillyer who worked on the barges was very clever at splicing so was able to make the halters for the commoners, he made many in his time.  He taught his sons Maurice and Brian to do this and then Brian passed on the secret of it so to speak, (laughs) the splicing and the measurements of it to daughter Jenny.

What year do you think that was taken?

1981 early 1980’s. Yes.

Photo 22 PT022

Lovely, so onto the next photograph.

This is taken at Ashurst drift in 1986 and demonstrating the branding, it looks quite a big foal and I’ve noted it is a foal that is being held. Its being held, the person on the left is Clive Maton, on the right holding the foal is Agister Terry Jones and actually doing the branding is Agister Brian Ingram which of course you’re allowed to brand your own, but used to be always allowed to brand your own.

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