Gerald Bedford
From Lacey Green History
Click Gerald Bedford's Retirement Lunch for Photos
Written by Joan West after conversations with Gerald Bedford and checked by Gerald
STOCKEN FARM
Gerald was born in 1932 at Holly Bush Farm, Walters Ash, where his father worked, (later demolished for Bomber Command), Gerald was the youngest of nine children. He started working, aged 14, for Dick West at Stocken Farm, Lacey Green. He retired fifty years later as farm foreman.
His brother also worked there when he started having worked there since 1942.
His sister Elsie also worked there from 1937 as nursemaid to John.
FARM WORK 1946
He recalled those early days when he first started. The various horses he worked with; the dairy bulls, which could be bad tempered; the corn cut with a binder and stood up in sheaves; the rick building and threshing. The grain to be bagged in two and a quarter hundredweight sacks. They had a lifter to get them four feet off the ground, then they could be carried on ones back.
He talked of THE FIELD ACROSS THE ROAD on which houses were built to house RAF personnel. (on the Main Road, from the church end of Church Lane to half way along to the other end of Church Lane. The RAF had a grass tennis court there for a while. Prior to that it had been a field belonging to Stocken Farm. Perhaps the landlord sold it, or maybe it was a compulsory purchase?!
HORSES
One of the horses was “rat-tailed”, just a bare tail with no hair, which was useless for swishing off flies, so they tied on strings to help it “swish”. Another turned out to be useless for pulling the cart because it would only go backwards when in shafts. They had many good horses, but the problem ones stand out.
THE FIRST TRACTOR. They got an old Fordson tractor. It had iron wheels with lugs. It was not taken on the road for this farm, but sometimes Harry Floyd wanted to borrow it for his farm up behind The Black Horse, so it had to g on the road then and it did a lot of damage to the surface,
DOG TO THE RESCUE
Both Dick West and Gerald were tossed by a bull. There were two bulls on the farm, one lived in a bull pen with a yard, at the farm. Another young bull lived out in the fields. It was a requirement then for these bulls to wear a metal mask. No doubt it was heavy and uncomfortable, for the bull got it off by rubbing it against a tree. They were walking it back to the farm when it turned and tossed Dick. Gerald shouted and it turned on Gerald. The dog hearing the shout rushed to the scene distracting the bull while the men got up. Gerald said later, “It knew it had done wrong and walked home "good as gold" afterwards”.
HORSE TO MACHINE
Gerald mastered the horse drawn implements to do the different field work. Then came the tractor and bigger implements until in 1956 the first combine was purchased. The corn had already been cut and made into sheaves, so to give it a trial they fed the sheaves into the cutter bar and let it thresh them into grain and straw. Next year would see the combine in full use at harvest time.
OBITUARY and TRIBUTE by Joan West
Gerald Bedford 1932 - 2016 worked all his life on Stocken Farm, Lacey Green.
Born at Holly Bush Farm, Walters Ash, later demolished for Bomber Command, Gerald grew up the second youngest of nine children.
He started working aged fourteen for Dick West at Stocken Farm, He retired fifty years later as farm foreman
Gerald at 25
When I first met Gerald he was twenty five, already the head tractor driver with a characteristic smile. It is with great pleasure that I give this tribute to a man who was a thoroughly skilled countryman, admired by all who worked with him, and who enjoyed the company of loyal friends and a close-knit family.
The "good" old days?
Gerald has spoken of the various horses he worked with when he started, the dairy bulls which could be bad tempered, the corn cut with a binder and stood up in sheaves, the rick building, threshing, and the grain to be bagged in two and a half hundredweight sacks. He mastered the horse drawn implements to do the different field work.
Bigger Machine. - safety still not an issue
Then came the tractor and bigger implements until in 1956 the first combine was purchased. The corn that year had already been cut and made into sheaves when the combine arrived, so to give it a trial they fed the sheaves into the cutter bar and let it thresh them into the grain and straw. 1957 saw Gerald on the combine all day all through harvest. There were no roll bars or cabs in those days. Safety was not an issue. No wonder at the end of the day that his face was as black as soot from all the dust blown up off the corn. And not surprising that he usually had a cigarette on the go.
Skilled Work
Gerald could lay a hedge to perfection and erect a fence to be strong and taut, both true skills. The students and part timers that worked on the farm hoped to be given a job with him for it would usually be an interesting one.
Gerald's Homes
In the 1950s he lived in Louches Lane, Naphill, his parent's home. When the New Road was blocked with snow, a frequent occurrence in those winters, he went home on the tractor and next morning would open up the road for others waiting to get through. He became quite well know for that. In the mid 1960s he moved into Stocken Cottage no 2, a semi-detached house. John & I lived next door. The little kitchens were on opposite sides of the houses but such were the rafters that in ours I could clearly hear him singing as he did his washing up in his. He had a lovely voice.
Relaxation at The Pink
For relaxation he would go to the pub. When living in Naphill he went to The Wheel, where he enjoyed playing darts. Having moved to Lacey Green he became great friends with Ken & Cis Fletcher, the landlords of The Pink and Lily. He loved all pub games and he and his friends would always settle in the 'snug' there to spend the evening playing. When the breathalyser was introduced he never drank and drove, his licence was vital for his work. The police were fond of waiting on Pink Road for those leaving the pub. His friends would wait for him to leave first. Sure enough the police would stop the first to go. His mates meanwhile drove past unhindered. He got a bit fed up with the police! Thought they should realise they were wasting their time and his.
At the Whip
After the Fletchers retired I believe he went sometimes to The Whip. They organised coach parties to go horse racing. In his retirement he watched racing on the 'tele daily.
The Black Horse
But now, his local was The Black Horse. Fifteen years ago the pub entered the dominos league. He was much in demand for he was a strong player. It is said 'he liked to win'. That is no surprise, his standards were always high. When he could no longer walk to the pub, Lynne, the landlady, would fetch him, Mondays for dominos but also Wednesdays and Sundays. She also took him to hospital and the doctor's on several occasions. She was more than the pub landlady, she was a friend. On his 70th birthday the pub presented him with his own pint handled mug, However he always finished the evening with a scotch.
My Thanks
My thanks go to all those who have briefed me on their friendships with Gerald: - Lynne and her staff at the Black Horse, -- a chorus of "Of course we all knew Gerald" from there. The domino's players, particularly Phil and Gordon. Memories from the farm staff, saying how much they learned from him, and how he bailed them out if they got caught a bit short at the end of the week. Dozens who gave me tales, too many to name, but much appreciated for adding to my picture
Family Ties
He regularly took his sister Margaret shopping and she lent a hand in his house. In 1991, his neighbour Philip, hanging out his washing, spotted Sandra, Margaret's daughter, sunbathing in Gerald's garden. They were married in 1993 and were to have three boys. It must have been very nice to have this family next door, becoming especially important to him in his later years.
Actions Speaking Volumes
When he was due to retire from the farm, he didn't want a fuss and reassured that he could stay in his farm cottage went into hospital to have new hips. While he was away two things were done. Firstly, his house was extended and made into two flats so that he didn't have to cope with the stairs.
Secondly, a secret lunch was arranged at the farm. His family, the farm staff old and new and all the old farm students were invited. His brother Stan was taking him to his sister Margaret for lunch. Stan was in on the secret, so when Gerald had a phone call from the farm inviting him to drop in at the farm to see an old friend, Stan persuaded him to do so as they went on their way to Margaret's.
The reason I mention this, is because those former students and staff came hundreds of miles to be there. Only one, farming in Eire couldn't get away. He hated the phone but nevertheless rang Gerald to have a chat and wish him well. I think we seated 39, or thereabouts, in 4 rooms, getting Gerald to move between courses. click Gerald Bedford's Retirement Lunch for photos
The effort they all made to be there must speak volumes, more than I can ever say.
Still Kept an Eye
In his retirement he still kept an eye on the farm, always noticed what was going on. I appreciated that he signed my Christmas card "with love". All those who knew him must be the richer for it.