Stocken Farm with Dick & Hilda West

Stocken Farm was bought by Dick & Hilda West in 1948

TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY? In 1948 Dick and Hilda West had the opportunity to buy Stocken Farm.    Dick, now 37, who had never borrowed in his life, bolstered by terrific faith from his wife and insistent advice from a friend, took courage, took a mortgage from the friend, and set out to make the 190 acres of Stocken Farm their own.    As in 1934, every penny had to be made to count.

In 1954, their son John had tossed up between Chemistry and Farming, and decided on farming, much to his parents’ relief.   After a year’s ‘practical’ at home, he enrolled at Harper Adams Agricultural Collage, in Shropshire, coming back to the farm in1957, having been awarded the medal for the second best student for that intake.    He had been given a grant to go there, which helped with the finance.    Very few students had a car, certainly not John and it was usual for him to hitch lifts to travel.   They sat final exams in Leeds.   Shropshire was good way from home to hitch,  Leeds even further.

Back home in 1957 it was not long before his parents made him a partner with them in the farm business, and “R M West & Son” was born.   Partners: Richard Montague West, Hilda Elsie West, & John Richard West.

By 1957 Dick had increased the cows to 26, his sheep to about 60 and had established a good name for commercial breeding pigs, which he sold at Reading market.   They prepared a few cockerels and turkeys for Christmas and had more hens.   The horses had been replaced by two tractors, their first combine harvester was recently purchased and they owned the farm, the mortgage had been cleared.

Now, students were coming from the collages with more professional knowledge. Machines became more specialised, but were expensive.    Crop and stock breeding advanced, everything became easier and yet more difficult.   Old style farming had to change – or else !

1957 PROGRESS to DATE. By 1957 Dick had increased the cows to 26, his sheep to about 60 and had established a good name for commercial breeding pigs, which he sold at Reading market. They prepared a few cockerels and turkeys for Christmas and had more hens.   The horses had been replaced by two tractors, their first combine harvester was recently purchased and they owned the farm, the mortgage paid off.