Gerald Bedford - Revision history

Joan at 11:25, 7 December 2024

2024-12-07T11:25:57Z

Joan at 12:16, 30 January 2024

2024-01-30T12:16:11Z

Joan at 12:04, 30 January 2024

2024-01-30T12:04:29Z

Joan at 12:33, 29 January 2024

2024-01-29T12:33:43Z

Joan at 16:37, 11 January 2024

2024-01-11T16:37:48Z

Joan at 16:37, 11 January 2024

2024-01-11T16:37:01Z

Joan at 22:02, 28 November 2023

2023-11-28T22:02:48Z

Joan at 17:37, 24 July 2023

2023-07-24T17:37:36Z

Joan at 20:15, 16 July 2023

2023-07-16T20:15:24Z

Joan at 13:10, 2 September 2022

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 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.
+[[File:Edie Morris and Gerald Bedford.jpg|left|thumb|1986. Edie Morris, wife of David Morris, sat next to Gerald at the silver wedding party of [[John & Joan West]]]]
 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?!

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 '''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.
 '''DOG TO THE RESCUE'''

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 '''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 half hundredweight sacks.
+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.
 '''HORSES'''

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-Click [[Gerald's Retiremen Lunch]] for Photos  [[File:Gerald Bedford.jpg|thumb]]
+Click [[Gerald Bedford's Retirement Lunch]] for Photos  [[File:Gerald Bedford.jpg|thumb]]
 [[File:Gerald Bedford 02.jpg|left|thumb]]
 Written by Joan West after conversations with Gerald Bedford and checked by Gerald
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 '''STOCKEN FARM'''
-Born 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.
+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.
 '''FARM WORK 1946'''
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 '''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 [[2 Stocken Cottages]], 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.
+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.
+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.
+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.
+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'''
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 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.
+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'''.

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-Click Gerald's Retiremen Lunch Photos  [[File:Gerald Bedford.jpg|thumb]]
+Click [[Gerald's Retiremen Lunch]] for Photos  [[File:Gerald Bedford.jpg|thumb]]
 [[File:Gerald Bedford 02.jpg|left|thumb]]
 Written by Joan West after conversations with Gerald Bedford and checked by Gerald

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:02, 28 November 2023
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	[[File:Gerald Bedford.jpg\|thumb]]		[[File:Gerald Bedford.jpg\|thumb]]
		+	[[File:Gerald Bedford 02.jpg\|left\|thumb]]
	Written by Joan West after conversations with Gerald Bedford and checked by Gerald		Written by Joan West after conversations with Gerald Bedford and checked by Gerald

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:37, 24 July 2023
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		+	[[File:Gerald Bedford.jpg\|thumb]]
	Written by Joan West after conversations with Gerald Bedford and checked by Gerald		Written by Joan West after conversations with Gerald Bedford and checked by Gerald

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:15, 16 July 2023
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−	~~{{Person}}~~
	Written by Joan West after conversations with Gerald Bedford and checked by Gerald		Written by Joan West after conversations with Gerald Bedford and checked by Gerald

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 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'''.