Andy Vining shares his mother’s diaries in his podcast. You can listen to these stories on Spotify.

MY MOTHER’S DIARIES

July and August 1950: Harvest, Cowpens and a Summer of Rain

Two eventful summer months at Hiltonbury Farm, recorded by Margaret “Bebe” Vining and retold by her son, Andy.

By Andy Vining

New cowpens promised modern farming, but relentless rain threatened the harvest. Around both ran the busy life of the Vining family: school journeys, birthdays, shows, visitors, preserving fruit and making the most of every dry hour.

1–9 July: Summer visitors, peas and the Oxford Show

July began with a lovely Saturday and the usual callers, although the Wests were away. The Deans took us to dinner at Greenaways; back home, the hens, ducks and geese still had to be shut up before a final cup of tea.

Sunday was lovely too. Heather, Janet and Andrew went to the Davis family’s party, while Jennifer and Julie proudly prepared tea in the garden. Bet, Fred and the Deans later joined us for a walk to Ramally, followed by a cheerfully rowdy evening.

Monday brought a terrible day of continuous rain. Washing hung in the kitchen, Bet stayed for dinner and tea, and Mother visited the hairdresser before reading, listening to a wireless play and going early to bed. Tuesday remained dull: dancing at the Hall, ironing, and pea-picking with Bet and Fred. Peas seemed endless – picked, shelled, taken to the shops or awaiting more willing hands.

On Wednesday Win and Frank drove Mother into Winchester. Joan and Les later brought raspberries, and Kath telephoned with an invitation to the Oxford Show. Mother hurried to the Deans for her mackintosh on Thursday before an 8.30am start, but storms, a cloudburst and terrible mud spoiled the show. Even so, they saw the Princess Royal and met Les, Joan, Barbara Allen and the Bowyers from Wokingham. Supper with Bet and Fred ended the day.

Friday turned lovely. After dancing at school and numerous odd jobs, Mother picked more peas with Bet, Fred and Ken Jenkin, then collected laundry from Beechcroft, and the farm still had no electricity. Saturday was hectic with many callers. Mr Chapman, who had taken Father’s job at Sangamo, visited; Mr Uve Hatley asked the children to demonstrate Kitty the donkey to a customer. Kitty helped secure the sale and the children received ten shillings. John and Frank went to Tommy’s, while Frank and Win returned to the farmhouse for supper.

Sunday was very hot. John and Mother picked blackcurrants; the children went to Hatley’s, where Diana had a new pony named Peggy. A thunderstorm arrived that evening—another reminder that the weather ruled the farm.

10–16 July: Blackcurrants, birthdays and new cowpens

For Les Beeton’s birthday, Mother finished the ironing before lunch, telephoned Mannings about a swarm of bees and went to Southampton with Bet. She saw M. J. Laise about Jennifer and bought the girl a bathing costume, shoes, knickers and socks for her forthcoming school trip to France. That evening everyone attended Les’s party.

Dancing continued at school, although wind once stopped the children’s play. Mother took peas to Joan, entertained Bet for tea and played in the Chalks tennis tournament, losing twice to Mr Chalk, 5–1 and 5–1. The next day the children danced successfully in calmer weather; Bet and Fred picked peas after tea, Mother gathered blackcurrants, and Les and Joan called. Another day went on picking, bottling and stewing blackcurrants for jelly. Rain stopped the tennis, and Mother made more knickers for Jennifer.

Mother then accompanied her own mother to Winchester Hospital for an examination and shopped for a handbag for Bet’s twenty-first birthday. She made blackcurrant jelly, the girls broke up from school, and construction of Hiltonbury’s new cowpens began.

This was a major advance: a cowshed with 36 standings and five new milking machines, powered by a vacuum pump driven by a Lister engine. With no electricity in the shed, Tilley lamps provided the light. John moved constantly between fields and builders, thinking about the herd, the cowpens and the approaching harvest.

A terribly wet Saturday brought the usual visitors. Julie stayed all day and overnight, and Win and Frank visited in the evening. Sunday remained wet, so table tennis was set up on the kitchen table; Julie stayed for tea and everyone listened to the wireless.

17–24 July: Andrew’s interview, Jennifer’s journey and Bet’s twenty-first

After completing the ironing, Mother and John took seven-year-old Andrew to St Probus School in Salisbury for an interview. Sending him away from the farm he loved was difficult, but Mrs St John advised that boarding would help him concentrate. ‘Rikky’, Mr Coates, also recommended the school, where his son Peter was already a pupil and known to Andrew.

The same day Bob and Bunty arrived at Beechcroft and brought the children to the farm after tea. Bet and Fred moved in, bulldozers were working and the whole farm seemed turned over. Soon afterwards Jennifer left from Eastleigh Station for her school trip to France. Mother darned, played tennis at Chalks and lost another tournament 5–1, but a sad letter from Jennifer caused greater concern than the score.

Warmth returned, bringing an afternoon and evening of pea-picking. Bob, Bunty and their family visited and joined in. On Bet’s twenty-first birthday, Bob and company came in the morning while the cowpen workers repeatedly called for tea. John cut oats in Hill Field; Mother cut the front lawn, played tennis at Chalks and went to Beechcroft for supper. Heavy overnight rain followed: oats cut one day, rain the next.

With oats, barley and wheat ripening, every dry hour mattered. John worked in Hill Field and at Flexford, judging whether to cut early or risk the crop in further rain. For Bet’s party, Mother made a sponge and iced cakes; the Deans called, and on Saturday she cooked all morning before the family gathered at Beechcroft. The Deans took Janet and Andrew to the circus. Afterwards everyone returned for supper and table tennis while rain fell again.

Sunday improved. Andrew spent the day with Mother, Janet was at the Deans, and table tennis followed tea. A lovely evening drive with the Deans passed through Whiteparish and West Dean. On Monday Bet helped with the washing before going to Winchester; Mother shopped, and the letter arrived accepting Andrew at St Probus. Bob and Bunty brought the children round, and Les and Joan called later.

25–31 July: Shows, jam, a puppy and Cossack riders

Tuesday was rotten with intermittent rain. John spent the day on a farm survey; Bet and Mother attended speech day at Mrs Wise’s school, followed by table tennis. Wednesday was lovely, allowing a trip to Lyndhurst Show with the Deans, Bob and his family. John was too busy with the harvest and cowpens, but it was a ‘jolly good show’, crowned by Norman winning best Jersey in show.

On Thursday the family bought a wind-up gramophone. Mother bottled early plums and made jam while John gathered oats and vetch for hay. Bob and Norah brought their families for a picnic. Friday stayed lovely: the village, tea at the Deans, then an afternoon and evening tidying the garden.

Ethel Moore held a Saturday garden party, where Mother took the children to watch dancing. Tennis at Chalks followed—John and Mother against Frank and Les for two good sets—then supper at the Deans. On Sunday Candy produced one puppy. Rain came and went; the family visited St George’s Cottage for a drink, Janet and Julie Dean danced after dinner, Mr Fry and his daughter called, and the Deans joined a game of table tennis.

On Monday, Win, Bet and Mother took the children to see the Cossack Riders at Southampton stadium. They were ‘jolly good’. Mother finished the ironing that evening, while Les and Tommy came to discuss the football pitch.

1–6 August: Tennis, greengage jam and a ferret in the pantry

Judith and Veronica joined the children for tea beside the stream. Mother, Bob and company called, followed by Nora and Stanley. Mother played, and lost, two more tennis tournaments at Chalks.

Wednesday brought rain. Mother visited the hairdresser and her mother; John went on another farm survey; Bet visited Mother; Janet and Julie went to Norah’s; Frank and Win came to tea. Mother visited that evening and John went to tennis.

Better weather on Thursday allowed Mother to make greengage jam from Flexford fruit and garden all afternoon. John played tennis at Chalks, while Betty discovered a ferret in the pantry – one of the small household dramas that caused great amusement.

Friday was exceptionally hectic. A man laid the hall floor, and so many relations came that tea was served in the field. Other visitors included Tommy, Joan and the Mannings. Auntie Toss and Uncle George left on holiday, which pleased Mother because Toss would no longer be ‘under my feet’.

On Saturday John cut oats in Factory Field while Mother joined the Chalks tennis party with the Deans; supper at the Deans meant a late bedtime. Sunday was lovely. New hall carpets and curtains went up, the Deans came for a picnic, and Norman joined the men walking the farm to inspect crops, cattle and the new cowshed.

7–13 August: Alton Show, hornets and the last wheat

Monday began early with the Coopers and Deans for a very enjoyable day at Alton Show. Mother returned early with the Coopers to prepare supper. Tuesday was dull, although the washing was finished before breakfast. Mother shopped in Southampton with Bob, Bunty and Mother. That evening John, Bet, Fred and Andrew went to the speedway dirt track in Southampton, while Les and Joan came for supper.

Rain returned on Wednesday. Bet went to Winchester with Mother, Bob and company; Mother ironed, and Joan collected two rabbits that had been shot. The Deans took Janet to Bournemouth for Julie’s birthday. Cross and Guppy safely removed a dangerous hornets’ nest from the roof.

Thursday was lovely again. John cut oats at Flexford, and a visit to SCATS produced water bowls for the new cowshed. Bet put the children to bed while Mother gardened all evening. On Friday Mother drew and stuffed a pheasant for dinner, completed her darning, and Bet walked to Beechcroft. John carted wheat at Flexford. Mother and Bet tidied Dad’s grave at the cemetery; after more gardening, Cross and Dennis Guppy came to supper as thanks for removing the hornets.

Saturday was rotten. Norah and company and the Wests made their usual visits. John managed to cut the last wheat before rain arrived—a crucial escape before the crop deteriorated further. Tennis was impossible, so the family played table tennis and the Deans came for the evening.

Sunday, Mary’s birthday, was lovely. After an early lunch, everyone went to Highcliffe with the Deans, bathed and relaxed on the beach, returning around nine before an early night.

14–20 August: Harvesting at Flexford and Jennifer home from France

Monday began fine. Mother ironed before lunch while John cut oats and barley at Flexford; she took tea to the field and the Deans joined them. Clouds gathered later. Tuesday was dull. Betty saw the doctor, John finished cutting oats just before rain, Mary Miller came to tea, and Mother bought plums from the Fortunes for bottling before table tennis.

Wednesday was lovely. John and Norman travelled to a cattle show in Wales; Mother saw Treasure Island with the Deans: ‘jolly good’, and returned with them for supper. Thursday brought heavy showers. Bet visited the hairdresser in the morning and Mother in the afternoon. Bob drove them to Southampton to meet Jennifer, who was home from France and pleased to be back. John returned about eight, and tea was taken at the Deans.

On Friday Bet and Fred returned to Beechcroft, while Bob and Bunty went back to Manchester. Mother shopped in Southampton for Andrew, buying shirts and material for a dressing gown. John made silage and became covered in molasses, to general amusement. Saturday was fine: John, Roger and Andrew went to football at the Dell for the new season; Win put the children to bed while Mother played tennis, and the Deans came to supper.

Sunday brought Frank and Hugh Toole to discuss the show. Crossy delivered grapes; Mother patched Andrew’s trousers; Mother and Bella visited, followed by Les and Joan.

21–27 August: Cattle testing, school clothes and prize-winning produce

Monday started dull but became hot. Mr Dreyfus tested the cows, John began gathering oats at Flexford, and Mother ironed through the afternoon and evening, and much of it Jennifer’s washing from France. Tuesday was warm but dull and harvest work stalled. Mother darned; Mrs Manning came and stayed all evening talking.

Wednesday was lovely. Mother cut the lawn, bathed, and began cutting out Andrew’s dressing gown; John went to football that evening. Thursday brought bad news: three cows failed the test, although the herd was now TT. Wind and showers made it a foul day. With Mary there daily and Julie often visiting, the house was full of children. Mother continued the dressing gown, telephoned the Sinclairs and learned that Mrs Watson was very ill.

On Friday Mother visited the village and went to Southampton with Win for more of Andrew’s school clothes. Win put the children to bed while Mother made scones and prepared flowers for the show. After breakfast on Saturday everyone went to the showground. John went to football; despite showers, Mother took the children to the show and won first prizes for eggs, jelly and shallots, and second prizes for roses and blackberries (not too bad). Sunday was rotten with heavy showers, but there was fun treading silage before Roger’s birthday tea at the Deans.

28–31 August: Birthdays, mending and relentless rain

Monday was rotten again, with morning rain and an early thunderstorm. Mother took Heather and Andrew to Joan Buckett’s for David’s birthday and saw the farmhouse for the first time, describing it as very nice. Tuesday was slightly better but still showery; she finished the ironing, mended clothes and continued Andrew’s dressing gown.

Wednesday was filthy, with rain almost all day. John went to football and the Deans came for table tennis. Thursday was terrible: nothing but rain. John could not even make silage, and the corn was spoiling.

The contrast summed up the summer. In the yard stood the forward-looking new cowshed—36 standings, Tilley lamps, a Lister engine and five milking machines. Outside, the old enemies remained: wind, rain and vulnerable corn. Yet family life continued through Jennifer’s journey to France, Andrew’s acceptance at St Probus, Bet’s twenty-first, shows, tennis, picnics, jam-making, visitors, ferrets, hornets, bees and puppies—with John always watching the sky for the few dry hours that might save the harvest.