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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Peggy Tillyer, Transcript 2, Part 2

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Peggy Tillyer Trans 2   CH 2    Duration 6:20

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

Photo 23 PT023

So this photo is at….

Charlie White’s holding at Pondhead.  Charlie White very kindly, when we had the drift, allowed his buildings be used as the holding pen or his yard be used and the buildings as the actual branding and worming area to contain the ponies, umm, close to. Umm its taken, the picture is taken in 1986, and it’s a bit dark but it is inside the actual cow shed and it is showing, laughs, a rather nice back view of poor old Charlie but he is actually branding one of his own foals, which you are allowed to do, or you were, I don’t know now.  Helping to hold at the back here, holding the foals head is umm Michael Ralphs and at the back is Charlie’s daughter Pat, now Pat Mabbutt. 

Photo 24 PT024

Image discussed in audio

Ok so on to this cottage photograph.

This is a picture of the original cottage in what is apparently the area known as old town Balmerlawn, which is on the Brockenhurst Road to Hatchett Pond, yes umm, out of umm, Brockenhurst Road, yes, umm, the original forest cottage.  It was sadly it was demolished in April 1988 and umm it has been replaced by a rather statelier type of house, a very large house, which is boarded all the way around.  The old lady whose name was Gladys Ede, she lived in there after her father, her husband died, and one of her hobbies was to feed and speak to the New Forest ponies, um,.  It sounds as though this is very naughty, because  in this day where we are told not to feed or touch the New Forest ponies, but this was right on the Forest, she did not deliberately go out and do it, in fact she always sat behind the fence and spoke to them a lot, she always told me that she loved just being with the ponies.

Photo 25 PT025

And this photo was taken at…..

At Longwater, umm, (inaudible) can’t remember how to describe it.  It was taken in June 1988 and  in fact Jenny Tillyer with her two then owned dogs call Gyp and Goldie.  It’s just interesting to see, as they are doing all of this upgrading so to speak of the Forest lawns etc. a picture of the original lawn, I’ve forgotten the name of this white flower, I ought to know it, but umm, I think it did flood in the winter but not that badly but it made a very nice lawn for the ponies in the summer.

Im sure that heather now comes right down now. I’m sure it does.

Photo 26 PT026

This picture is on the opening of the official part of the opening celebration of the New Forest Centre in the car park of Lyndhurst.  One of the things they had to exhibit in there was as many as possible of the brands, the existing brands.. And we were invited along to take our brands and put on this door.  This actually shows Brian Tillyer, you can’t see the brand because it was behind but it was the anchor B he was putting on there.  In the picture on the left hand side is Mrs Beat Cook.  She looks as though she is holding her brand in her hand.  Centre is Marion Ingram, and with the diamond shaped patterned jumper, now which one was this?

John Pooley

John Pooley with his elbow up on the board hidden by Brian is Derek Pooley, Ingram.  Derek Ingram I beg your pardon.

Lovely.

Photo 27 PT027

And this is another picture of the door branding ceremony for the New Forest Centre and again you can see all the brands being heated ready to put on the door, which today you can still go and see this door with all the brands on it.  Left in the picture is Brian Tillyer, left centre is Agister Terry Jones, the lad is, we don’t know, right centre is Terry’s wife Rose and on the right hand side, the two gentlemen, Charlie Dovey and just you can see the side of his face is Maldwin Drummond who was a Verderer, Official Verderer.

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Peggy Tillyer, Transcript 2, Part 3

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Peggy Tillyer   Trans 3 Duration 4:52

Photo 28 PT028

This photograph?

I don’t know quite why this was taken, but somebody decided we would have a picture of the 4 agisters so I was there and took one too.  It’s taken in 1988 and they, umm, Agisters, umm, from left to right John Booth, Raymond Bennett, Terry Jones and Brian Ingram, at the back, in the back ground,  is also David Stagg who at the time was a Verderer.  Because the Verderers employ the agisters, so that quite apt as well.

Photo 29 PT029

Yes.  This picture shows (laughs) the Withybeds drift, I’ve written in there mark II in October 1988.  It was absolutely tipping down and it demonstrates the use of the original portable pound lengths, these were made of, we think, oak they were extremely heavy but very durable.   Again it indicates or demonstrates how in conjunction with the underpass you had your collecting point plus the um branding area, umm using the layout of the land where there was no easy way, easy place to put a pound. 

Photo 30 and 31 PT030 & PT031

Image discussed in audio

This post card has been printed especially to indicate a New Forest Commoner and it is in fact with Mr Harry Burt with his animals outside his thatched cottage holding near Brockenhurst.  It’s around about 1950’s.  39 years later, no nearly 40 years later we have another picture of Mr Harry Burt by his holding its actually at South Weirs at Brockenhurst and in later times to help supplement his living one of the things Harry Burt did was to breed rabbits especially for the table and this he supplied I understand Sainsbury’s as one of his customers for this um way of earning his living.

Photo 32 PT032

This just to demonstatre again using the portable pound the old wooden one the very heavy one.  This time at Fritham in 1990.  This was used actually on the road itself, umm, it was very difficult to drive round while the drift was on. (laughs)

Photo 33 PT033

Agister Terry Jones died very suddenly and a memorial pound was made for him, um, I’ve forgotten where, Hursthill  and in June 1991 there was a naming ceremony and a lot of people had brought their brands and actually put them on the uprights of the pound itself and the one that shows here is David Stagg with his back to us and Richard Stride on the right, I don’t know who the little child is on the right.

David Stagg is actually doing the brand isn’t he?

Yes I don’t know, he could be doing the Verderers, because there is a Verderers brand isn’t there, he might be doing that, I don’t know.

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Peggy Tillyer, Transcript 2, Part 3

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Peggy Tillyer   Trans 2  Part 3   Duration: 4:53

Photo 28 PT028

This photograph?

I don’t know quite why this was taken, but somebody decided we would have a picture of the 4 agisters so I was there and took one too.  It’s taken in 1988 and they, umm, Agisters, umm, from left to right John Booth, Raymond Bennett, Terry Jones and Brian Ingram, at the back, in the back ground,  is also David Stagg who at the time was a Verderer.  Because the Verderers employ the agisters, so that quite apt as well.

Photo 29 PT029

Yes.  This picture shows (laughs) the Withybeds drift, I’ve written in there mark II in October 1988.  It was absolutely tipping down and it demonstrates the use of the original portable pound lengths, these were made of, we think, oak they were extremely heavy but very durable.   Again it indicates or demonstrates how in conjunction with the underpass you had your collecting point plus the um branding area, umm using the layout of the land where there was no easy way, easy place to put a pound. 

Photo 30 and 31 PT030 & PT031

This post card has been printed especially to indicate a New Forest Commoner and it is in fact with Mr Harry Burt with his animals outside his thatched cottage holding near Brockenhurst.  It’s around about 1950’s.  39 years later, no nearly 40 years later we have another picture of Mr Harry Burt by his holding its actually at South Weirs at Brockenhurst and in later times to help supplement his living one of the things Harry Burt did was to breed rabbits especially for the table and this he supplied I understand Sainsbury’s as one of his customers for this um way of earning his living.

Photo 32 PT032

This just to demonstatre again using the portable pound the old wooden one the very heavy one.  This time at Fritham in 1990.  This was used actually on the road itself, umm, it was very difficult to drive round while the drift was on. (laughs)

Photo 33 PT033

Agister Terry Jones died very suddenly and a memorial pound was made for him, um, I’ve forgotten where, Hursthill  and in June 1991 there was a naming ceremony and a lot of people had brought their brands and actually put them on the uprights of the pound itself and the one that shows here is David Stagg with his back to us and Richard Stride on the right, I don’t know who the little child is on the right.

David Stagg is actually doing the brand isn’t he?

Yes I don’t know, he could be doing the Verderers, because there is a Verderers brand isn’t there, he might be doing that I don’t know.

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Peter Harrison, images

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Leading the Galloways through Fordingbridge

Tom Deacon leading Mr Dalgetty’s herd of Galloways through Fordingbridge

The Galloways on the move through Fordingbridge, off to the station.

See Rosemary Harding’s pages for more detail.

Bringing up the rear

Don Dibden and Raymond Stickland bring up the rear of the Galloways

Rosemary Harding Remembers

Image discussed in audio

Rosemary talks about commoners and their pony and cattle management during the twentieth century. Amongst other activities she describes how her father used to take his cattle to Rottingdean in East Sussex and by ferry to the Isle of Wight, for grazing. She remembers the Queen’s visit to the New Forest in 1979.

Rosemary Harding, transcript and audio part 1

Rosemary Harding, transcript and audio part 2

Rosemary Harding, transcript and audio part 3

Rosemary Harding, transcript and audio part 4

Rosemary Harding, transcript and audio part 5

Rosemary Harding, Part 1

An interview with Rosemary Harding at her home Bussies Farm in Linwood on 20th October, 2016.

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

Rosemary Harding    CH1   Duration: 4:17

CB:  So this is Clare Bates interviewing Rosemary Harding at her home Bussies Farm in Linwood on 20th October 2016.  So Rosemary, tell me about this first photograph. (RH001)

Rosemary: This is myself leading Conkers with [16.4] [information redacted] and [17.15] [information redacted] on and that was in about the 60’s.

CB:  In about the 60’s

Rosemary:  And that’s here.

CB:  And that’s Fritham Conker –

 Rosemary: Yes

CB:   And that’s the pony you particularly remember.

Rosemary:  Yes, he was a stallion.

CB:  He was a stallion. Okay, that’s lovely, thank you.  So, Rosemary, tell me about this second photograph here.(RH002)

Rosemary: This is my father on Conkers with [35.65] [information redacted] on. And that’s then, in the mid-sixties.

CB:  The mid-sixties. And your father’s name?

Rosemary:  That’s Raymond Stickland and it’s down outside the gate here.

CB:  Just outside the gate.  That’s lovely.  So this third photograph (RH003); that’s a lovely picture again of your father.

Image discussed in audio

Rosemary:  He’s on Sunsalve, (NFS 480, foaled 1961 bred by  [information redacted], Fir Tree Farm, Ogdens) which is a stallion. And it’s outside the gate on the Common here.  It’s got to be in the sixties.

CB:  Back in the sixties.

Rosemary:  Mmm.

CB:  Yeah, that looks lovely, thank you.  Okay, so we’re on to the fourth photograph now (RH004).  And tell me about this one, this is very interesting –

Rosemary:  Well this one is where my Dad and – I don’t know who the other person is – they’re colt-hunting, catching the horse by its tail, like they used to –  and that’s got to be in the sixties as well.

CB:  So the person on the left looks like they’ve got a rope –

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  And that’s who we don’t know.

Rosemary: Yes.

CB:  And the person on the right is Ray Stickland.

Rosemary:  I’m sure it’s my Dad.  And that’s how they used to catch them.

CB:  Proper colt-hunting.  Yeah.  That’s lovely. So on to the fifth photograph. (RH005)

Rosemary:  It’s a picture taken of the point-to-point, you know, that we have on Boxing Day.  But who’s on the horses, I haven’t a clue.

CB:  So interesting, they’ve got ties and jackets on.

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  Very.. not like.. I think –

Rosemary: They used to get on and go, didn’t they?  They never used to worry about all the gear, did they?

CB: Ange, Who did you say you thought that was?

Angie Wilson: [1:54.7]  [information redacted]…

CB:  [1:55.75] [information redacted] is probably on the lead horse.  So this is a lovely picture of the farm. (RH006)

Image discussed in audio

Rosemary: Yes.  This is –

CB: This is Bizzies Farm –

Rosemary:  That’s Bussies farm, yeah.

CB:  Bussies Farm, sorry.

Rosemary:  That’s okay.  That was taken in the ‘fifties, it’s got to be.

CB: Okay; and is that a caravan?

Rosemary:  Yes.  And that up there.

CB:  What, on top of the hill?

Rosemary:  That was to do with Hurn Airport, to bring the planes in.  And when we used to come across the top, we used to call it ‘The Ship’.

CB:  It looks like a ship, doesn’t it?

Rosemary:  Yeah.  Yeah.

CB:  So,do you remember that, up on the hill?

Angie Wilson:  I do, yeah.

CB:  So, is this before there was a house down there?  Or is there a house there.

Rosemary:  That is the house

CB:  Oh, that is the house.

Rosemary:  That’s how it was.

CB:  Oh, I thought it was a barn.

Rosemary:  No.

CB:  Oh, yeah, I can see now, you’re right.

Rosemary:  That was put up temporary in the war.

CB:  Yeah.

Rosemary:  And it stayed till 1992, then we knocked it down and we built this.

CB:  Oh, I see.

Rosemary:  Yeah. 

CB:  So this, number seven. (RH007)   You tell me it’s the Dalgetty cattle.

Image discussed in audio

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  The Dalgettys, where would they be?

Rosemary:  In the village here,  just across the Common.

CB:  Across the Common –

Rosemary:  But it’s called Little Pointers, the name of the farm was.

CB:  Yeah –

Rosemary:  And that’s in the yard.  They had black Galloway cattle, he did.

CB:  Oh, they’re Galloway, are they?

Rosemary:  Mmm.  He had hundreds and hundreds of them here.

CB: Somebody told me the Dalgettys had Black Angus.

Rosemary:  No.

CB:  Definitely Galloway.

Rosemary:  They’re Galloway, yes. ‘Cos they used to push them through Fordingbridge, put them on the train to go to Lymington –

CB:  Yes.

Rosemary:  They used to take them to Brighton, up near Rottingdean, on the waterworks place; they used to go there, and they also took them to the Isle of Wight.

CB:  And was that for slaughter or was that to gr –

Rosemary:  No, that was for grazing.

CB:  Oh, wow.

Rosemary:  So when dad used to go with them, and he used to drive them on the ferry –

CB: Literally? 

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  On hoof?

Rosemary:  On hoof.

CB:  Back of the ferry?

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  Wow!  That’s amazing.

Rosemary:  Yes, go down to Lymington, they used to drive them on the ferry. 

CB:  And then –

Rosemary:  Nudged(?) all the muck!  (Laughter)  This was in the early ‘fifties.

CB:  In the early ‘fifities, lovely.  Number eight photograph. (RH008)

Image discussed in audio

Rosemary:  That is the deer in the top field.  In the ‘sixties.

CB:  Jumping over the fence to eat all your grass.

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  They’re fallow deer, aren’t they?

Rosemary:  And Roe; and we get Sika.

CB:  Oh, really –

Rosemary:  Mmm

CB:  That’s a lovely picture. 

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Rosemary Harding, Part 2

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Rosemary Harding CH2   Duration: 3:46

CB:Okay, so on to number nine photograph. (RH009)

Image discussed in audio

Rosemary:  Yeah, this is in the winter in the late ‘sixties.

CB:  Okay, and that I can see, the original house we were looking at in the other photograph.

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  And this is the gate that I came through to drive up the drive.

Rosemary:  Yes, and since then we’ve had stables and all sorts built

CB:  That’s right.  Looks like it was a hard winter, that winter. 

Rosemary:  Mmm.

CB:  And, of course, you can turn ponies out, straight from your gate.

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  Which is nice, isn’t it.

Angie Wilson:  She was good at it, wasn’t she, Rosemary?

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  So this is number ten photograph. (RH010).  Tell me about this one.

Rosemary:  This is our neighbour, [information redacted], with his two shire horses, Bitter and Sweet; and on them are  [information redacted] and  [information redacted].  And that’s in the ‘sixties.  He used to do pony rides. And weddings.  Had a big cart and all sorts from here

CB:  Did he? 

Rosemary:  Yeah.

CB:  And he was just up the road. And did he –

Rosemary:  Just next door –

CB:  – turn ponies and cattle out?

Rosemary:  Yes.  He had Scottish Blues.

CB:  Oh, did he.

Rosemary:  Yeah.  He was a butcher.

CB:  Oh, he was a butcher as well.

Rosemary.  Yes.  Then he had a butcher shop there an’ all.

CB:  Okay.

Rosemary:  But he originated from Southampton.  He was assistant coach to Southampton Football Club.

CB:  Was he now!  Okay.  And when do you think this might have been taken.

Rosemary:  it’s got to be in about – late sixties.

CB:  Late ‘sixties.  Okay.  So this is a very detailed photograph. (RH011)  Tell me about this one.

Rosemary:  Well, I know it’s out on the Forest.  M’dad had to go and help a Belted Galloway deliver its calf.

CB:  So he’s out there with his ropes, shirt off  –

Rosemary:  Yup.

CB:  Elbow deep in –

Rosemary:  Yes!

CB:  Got his ropes on there; got one secured on one  foot and he’s pulling the other one…wow.

Rosemary:  Sometimes if they’ve got them, they brought them back in the lorry and we’ve done it in the yard.  Delivered them, but they don’t always.

CB:  Sometimes they’re more urgent, I guess.

Rosemary:  Yeah.

CB:  Number thirteen  (RH013)

Rosemary: The second gentleman on the picture in is Mr. [information redacted].

CB:  And he’s got the – what’s that, a trilby hat?

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  And was he a Commoner?

Rosemary:   No, he was the farm manager for Mr. Dalgetty.

CB:  Oh, was he, right.

Angie Wilson:  (Interrupts with comments – about [information redacted]?)

CB:  Okay, and –

Rosemary:  Yes.

Rosemary:  And that’s dad on the ground.

CB:  Dad is on the ground.  What’s he down there with?  Looks like a –

Rosemary:  Looks like he’s sat on something like a cow

CB:  Yeah, and we don’t know the other one; obviously jumped off that horse –

Rosemary:  Yes

CB:  Grabbed it; he needed that one, I should think.  And you reckon that about nineteen fifties?

Rosemary:  In the fifties, early ‘fifties, yeah.

CB:  Early ‘fifties – yeah, that’s lovely.  Okay, so number 14 (RH014).  This is a lovely black and white picture; tell me about it

Rosemary:  It’s the early ‘fifties.  It’s my dad on a special roundup because – 

CB:  he’s got his best uniform on –

Rosemary:  Yes, and it looks like it’s  [information redacted] leading the colt; must’ve caught it.

CB:  Okay, they’ve got their ropes on and your dad is obviously the chap with the whip –

Rosemary:  Yes –

CB:  And he’s encouraging that pony to walk on… with – who –”[information redacted]” did you say?

Rosemary:  I’m sure that’s  [information redacted].

CB:  [information redacted].

Rosemary:  Or if it’s not  [information redacted], it’s – or  [information redacted]. They both – they do look alike.

CB:  Okay.   And you think early ‘fifties again.

Rosemary:  Definitely, yeah.

CB:  Super.

Rosemary:  And I should imagine it’s up at Stoney Cross.

CB:  Yeah, it looks like that, doesn’t it?

Rosemary:  Yeah.

CB:  Yep.  Number 15. (RH015)  Another lovely calving one.  When do you think that was?

Image discussed in audio

Rosemary:  This is in the 1960’s and you can see, the head’s out first.

CB:  Yeah, got it.  Two front legs, followed by the nose.

Rosemary:  Yes, and it’s in the Forest ‘cos hay –

(Passage indistinct; both talking at the same time)

CB:  Again, another emergency…trees…

Rosemary: ..trees  ..on the forest

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Rosemary Harding, Part 3

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Rosemary Harding CH3   Duration: 3:17

CB:  Lovely.   So, number sixteen.(RH016)

Rosemary:  This is in Mr. Dalgetty’s corral; and [5.75] [information redacted] is putting the thing across the corral so they can put a ring in the bull’s mouth.

CB:  Yes, and remind me what breed he is?

Rosemary:  He’s a Galloway. 

CB:  Galloway.

Rosemary:  Belted Galloway, yeah.

CB:  Lovely.  So, number seventeen (RH017), a lovely farm scene –

Image discussed in audio

Rosemary:  Well this is at Dalgetty’s again and Mert the dog trying to bring the cattle back and one’s trying to jump the fence.

CB:  He’s got his front legs right up –

Rosemary:  In the wire.  It’s like chicken wire, isn’t it.

CB:  Oh it is, yeah;  d’you know any of these people here?

Rosemary:  Well that’s [34.55] [information redacted] again,

CB; with his back to us, but who – ;

Rosemary:  that’s my dad there –

CB:  Oh, I see, in the very far –

Rosemary:  Yeah.

CB:  Right hand corner.

Rosemary:  So I suppose they stopped so many going back these two who broke away and Mert the dog,

CB:  Gone back to get them.  Lovely.  Okay, so on to number eighteen. (RH018)

Rosemary:  This is again in the ‘fifties in Mr. Dalgetty’s, in the Crush and it looks like my dad is going to lasso it.

CB:  Yes.

Rosemary ‘Cos he used to get a lot of Forest Eye, you see.

CB:  Yeah.

Rosemary:  And then he used to treat them.

CB:  With the Forest Eye…

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  He’s already got his jumper off and chucked it on the floor from the look of it.  And that he’s all poised ready with his rope halter –

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  Lovely.  And number nineteen. (RH019)

Image discussed in audio

Rosemary:  This is my dad in the late ‘fifties, delivering one of his own calves.

CB:  And that was on this farm.

Rosemary: On this farm here, yes.

CB:  So that’s one of his own, is it?

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  What breed was that, do you think?

Rosemary:  They were Galloways

CB:  Oh, they were Galloways.

Rosemary:  They were to start with.  Then we went to Charolais.  ‘Cos I think dad crossed them.

CB:  Yeah.

Rosemary:  Yeah. In the end. We had Charolais in the end.

CB:  Okay, so number twenty. (RH020)

Rosemary:  This is my dad again at Mr. Dalgetty’s farm.  [1:48.8] [information redacted]’s on the motor bike, driving up the bull and my dad’s on Sandy behind.

CB:  Oh yes, lovely!  Photograph number twenty-one. (RH021)

Rosemary:  This is of the three Agisters.  My dad’s in the middle; to my left is Raymond Bennett, to my right is Brian Ingram.

CB:  A very young looking Brian Ingram.

Rosemary:  Yes, and Raymond Bennett.  I don’t know what year it is.

CB:  No.

Rosemary:  I’d say it was late ‘sixties, most probably.

CB:  Yes.  Beautiful shiny boots.

Rosemary:  Mmm.

CB:  Number twenty-two. (RH022)

Image discussed in audio

Rosemary:  These are my dad’s pride and joy.  His cattle outside his gate, in the winter.  In the ‘seventies.

CB:  In the ‘seventies. And there’s snow on the ground.

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:   Now they look – ooh, what are these with the black nose and the black –

Rosemary:  Well, they are Charolais.

CB:  They’re Charolais.

Rosemary:  Yes, Charolais Cross.

CB:  Okay.

Rosemary:  And then we had some Herefords and they were Charolais Cross as well.

CB: So did they come home to eat or did you – ?

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:   Take food out –

Rosemary:  No.

CB:  They came home.

Rosemary:  They came home.  If it was going to be cold, they were home at one o’clock.

CB:  Okay.

Rosemary:  If it was going to be warm they didn’t come home till gone three, but they’d come home every day.

CB:  Did they then stay in all night or just for a few hours? 

Rosemary:  All night.

CB:  All night, then you put them out again in the morning.

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  Lovely.  So, twenty-three. (RH023)  Another beautiful scenic –

Image discussed in audio

Rosemary:  This is out on the Common in front of our gate.  My dad’s cattle again. And that’s got to be in the ‘seventies.

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Rosemary Harding, Part 4

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

Rosemary Harding CH4   Duration: 2:53

CB:  That’s lovely.  So tell me about this photograph here. (RH024)

Rosemary:  All I know is it’s when they used to do pony driving.  There was a society and that was  [information redacted].

CB:  And who was he, then?

Rosemary:  He was something to do with Strongs’ Brewery.

CB:  Oh, was he.

Rosemary:  And they lived – he lived in Burley.

CB:  ..?..

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  That looks to me like it’s Whitefield  Moor.

Rosemary:  It could be up on the aerodrome.

CB:  Oh it could be up on the aerodrome.

Rosemary:  On the aerodrome, yes,

CB: It could actually, yes.

***:   He lived up at ..?..

CB:  Did he.  Tell me about this photograph, number twenty-five.(RH025)

Rosemary:  This is when the Queen came for nine hundred years of the New Forest, she was introduced to my father and beside the Queen is Sir Dudley Forward.

CB:  He’s holding a beautiful grey horse.

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  That you believe –

Rosemary:  Belonged  to the Queen Mother. 

CB:  Belonged to the Queen Mother, wow, what a privilege.  That’s lovely.

Rosemary:  Because he was Equerry to the Queen Mother.

CB:  Sir Dudley Forward.

Rosemary:  Mmm.

CB:  Oh, was he.

Rosemary:  Yeah.

CB:  She looks jolly happy there actually, doesn’t she?

Rosemary: Yes.

CB:  Much younger.  So on to number twenty-six. (RH026)

Image discussed in audio

Rosemary:  This is the late ‘sixties.  I think it’s Broomy Pound where they’re treating the horse for worming or something when it came in on a colt hunt.

CB:  In the pound, tied up because –  round his leg to keep it still.

Rosemary:  Yes

CB: And then that’s your Fritham – is it Fritham Conkers –

Rosemary: Conkers, yes –

CB:  In the back –

Rosemary:  Yup.

CB:  Overseeing –

Rosemary:  Yeah.

CB:  So, number 27. (RH027)

Image discussed in audio

Rosemary:  Have you done one like this?

CB:  No.

Rosemary:  ‘Cos there are some like that are the same.   Um, this is up at Stoney Cross.

CB:  Yeah.

Rosemary: In the ‘fifties.  So, my dad and [information redacted] colt hunting, rounding up.

CB:  Your dad’s all dressed up in his –

Rosemary:  – In his uniform –

CB:  His official uniform.

Rosemary:  Uniform, yes.

CB:  At the back there.

Rosemary:  Yeah.

CB:  When did you say this was?

Rosemary:  In the fifties

CB:  The ‘fifties.

Rosemary:  Yeah.

CB:  Yeah.  Super.  Okay. (RH028)

Rosemary:  This is the early ‘fifties again.

CB:  Yeah.

Rosemary:  With my dad at Mr. Dalgetty’s at the corral, with [information redacted] putting the finishing touches to the bull ring into his mouth.

CB: Oh, I see, yes.

Rosemary:  That’s what they’re doing.

CB:  The bull’s gone down, they’re doing it right down there –

Rosemary:  Yeah, the look of it.  They were feisty, they were.

CB:  Yeah.  Okay, Rosemary, tell me about this one. (RH029)

Rosemary:  This is my dad down the yard, milking the cow with  [information redacted] watching him milk the c –  I think the cow’s called Daisy May.

CB:  And that’s your house cow.

Rosemary:  Yes.

CB:  Oh, lovely.  And what were the boy’s surnames?

Rosemary:   [information redacted].

CB:  Oh that’s [information redacted] again.  Okay.

Rosemary: That’s ‘cos it’s their dad taken nearly all these photographs for us.

CB:  Oh, I see.

Rosemary:  Even those at Mr. Dalgetty’s as well.

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