1996 Gerald Bedford retires from Stocken Farm

This report was mentioned in Social Snapshots 1969-2000 inc

GERALD BEDFORD RETIRED AFTER 51 YEARS AT THE FARM. by Joan West

TWO OPERATIONS

Gerald spent much of 1996, his last working year having operations for two new hips.    As foreman at Stocken Farm, Gerald had been given private health insurance. It was important, when they had such busy seasons, to be able to arrange when time was taken off for such operations.   The only other time Gerald had been in hospital was when a sliver of dirty wood had gone under a finger nail. It turned very nasty!

A DOWNSTAIRS FLAT

He had been assured that he could keep his house on the farm.   While he was away in hospital, his house was doubled in width and made into two flats, so that he no longer had stairs to contend with.   The upstairs flat was rather a strange layout, but it was achieved.   Gerald’s flat downstairs worked out very well indeed.  

THE BIG SECRET

When the day came for him to finally retire, he didn’t want a fuss, so a celebratory lunch had to be arranged secretly.    His family, the farm family, the farm staff, old and new, and all the old farm students were invited.

LUNCH WITH SISTER MARGARET

His brother Stan was in on the secret.  On the day, Stan was going to drive Gerald to their sister Margaret’s for lunch.   We phoned him to say an old friend had dropped in unexpectedly and had said it would be nice to see Gerald.  Could he pop over to the farm, when on his way to Margaret’s?   Stan persuaded him to do so.

WHY ARE YOU HERE?

On arriving at the farm the first person Gerald saw was Margaret.   “What are you doing here?”   Certainly a perfectly reasonable question!

FIVE DINING TABLES

We had set up five large dining tables in different rooms downstairs, getting Gerald to move to each throughout the lunch.

MANY MILES TRAVELLED

Those former students and staff came many 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.

MORE THAN WORDS CAN TELL

The effort they all made to be present speaks volumes.    More than I can ever say.

P.S.

Gerald kept a watchful eye out for the farm, from his flat, right until he died in 2016.