Rosemary Harding, Part 5

Images: Rosemary Harding, copyright reserved. For any rights requests, please contact the New Forest Heritage Centre in the first instance.

Rosemary Harding CH5   Duration:  2:58

CB:  Ah, right, that’s lovely. Okay, tell me the names of the Agisters here, starting on the left. (RH030)

Rosemary:  This is the agisters in the ‘fifties.  On the left is Ron Ings; next is Raymond Bennett; then it’s Raymond Stickland; and Hubert Forwood.

CB:  That’s lovely.

Rosemary:  And that is in Verderer’s Court.

CB:  I was going to say, that looks like Verderer’s Court.

Rosemary:  Yeah, that’s in Verderer’s Court.

CB:  In fact, they’ve just re-done all the floor in there –

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  Relaid it. Same tiles.

Rosemary:  And that’s when they wore boots and gaiters –

CB:  Oh, yes!

Rosemary: And you had to do the little buttons?

CB:  Oh yes!

Rosemary:  With a hook –

CB:  Amazing!

Rosemary:  Yeah, ‘cos Geordie had (retired?), but I can’t tell you what year.

CB:  Okay, and that’s when – Raymond retired? (RH031)

Rosemary: No, he did.

CB:  Geordie retired.

Rosemary:  Dad presented it to him.

CB:  Oh, I see.  What a beautiful statue of a horse.  Actually, I can’t quite read on there what date it is.

Rosemary:  No, I can’t.

CB:  That’s lovely. Thank you.  Now, tell me about this photograph. (RH032)

Rosemary:  This is my dad in the middle with a Galloway cow on a halter and it was a gentleman helping him, and Sue Rix must’ve helped them getting him to go on the wharf.

CB:  Yep, and Sue Rix is –

Rosemary:   [information redacted] mum.

CB: [information redacted] and  [information redacted] is an agister at the moment.

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  Okay.  Tell me about that one. (RH033)

Image discussed in audio

Rosemary:  This my dad out on his horse in the ‘sixties, in the Forest, having a ride round to see what animals is to be sorted out.  

CB:  Yes, that was the Fritham Conker, that’s the one –

Rosemary:  Fritham Conkers, yes.

CB:  He liked that one, didn’t he?

Rosemary:  Yes.  Yes, he was a good old work horse, like sittin’ in an armchair.

CB:  Was he?

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  You rode him?  Did you used to ride him?

Rosemary:  Yeah.  He was my horse, technically. (Both laugh)

CB:  Was he now!

Rosemary:  Yes.  He was lovely.

CB:  You say he was strong enough to bring the colts home?

Rosemary:  Yes, I’ve know dad come home with two colts tied on round his neck.

CB:  Really.  And he’d just walk them on back?

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  That’s a tough job.  How big was he do you think.

Rosemary:  He was thirteen two.

CB:  Was he?

Rosemary:  Mmm.

CB:  Very strong.  Real good legs on him.

Rosemary: Then after he passed on, we had Rocky.

CB:  Did you?

Rosemary:  He was a chestnut.  We liked chestnuts.

CB:  I like chestnuts as well.  That’s lovely, thank you.  Okay, and this last one. (RH034)  Tell me about this one.

Rosemary:  This was when my dad retired;  the  [information redacted] presented a photograph – a painting, I should say – of our property.  And with the animals outside.  The only thing he did wrong, he had the horse in the wrong field.

 CB:  (laughing)  Oh, did he!  Look, in the painting.   And that was in Verderer’s Court.

Rosemary:  Yes, the Verderer’s Court.

CB:  And what year was that, can you remember?

Rosemary:  About nineteen eighty-five.

CB:  ‘Eighty-five.

Rosemary:  Mmm.

CB:  Yeah.  Must be very proud of your painting.

Rosemary:  Mmm.

Previous part Rosemary Harding main page
0 comments

Your Comment