January and February 1951: Snowdrifts, Snowdrops and a Pig at the Ball

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

By Andy Vining

The new year opened under deep snow. Before February was over, the same fields were producing hundreds of bunches of snowdrops. Between them came family illness, schooldays, dancing, farm work, birthdays, visitors, a tragic accident, young chicks in a greenhouse — and one of Mother’s most memorable diary lines: “Jolly good. Won a pig!”

[Read more…] about Andy Vining’s Podcast: My Mother’s Diaries 1948 – 1976: Episode 20 — January and February 1951

MY MOTHER’S DIARIES

November and December 1950: The Turning of the Year

Half-term, Bonfire Night and a busy Hiltonbury Christmas, recorded by Margaret “Bebe” Vining and retold by her son, Andy.

By Andy Vining

[Read more…] about Andy Vining’s Podcast: My Mother’s Diaries 1948 – 1976: Episode 19 — November and December 1950

MY MOTHER’S DIARIES

September and October 1950: Autumn Turning

Harvest’s end, a child leaving for school and autumn settling over Hiltonbury Farm, recorded by Margaret “Bebe” Vining and retold by her son, Andy.

By Andy Vining

[Read more…] about Andy Vining’s Podcast: My Mother’s Diaries 1948 – 1976: Episode 18 — September and October 1950

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.

[Read more…] about Andy Vining’s Podcast: My Mother’s Diaries 1948 – 1976: Episode 17 — July and August 1950

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

MY MOTHER’S DIARIES

May and June 1950: Curtains, Cowslips and Haymaking

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

By Andy Vining

[Read more…] about Andy Vining’s Podcast: My Mother’s Diaries 1948 – 1976: Episode 16 — May and June 1950

Andy Vining shares his mother’s diaries in his new podcast. Listen to these beautiful stories on Spotify.

Andy Vining’s parents were John and Peggy (later known as Be Be).

March & April 1950 — Spring Returning at Hiltonbury [Read more…] about Andy Vining’s Podcast: My Mother’s Diaries 1948 – 1976: Episode 15 — March and April 1950

Andy Vining shares his mother’s diaries in his new podcast. Listen to these beautiful stories on Spotify.

Andy Vining’s parents were John and Peggy (later known as Be Be).

A New Decade Begins at Hiltonbury Farm

January and February 1950

The year 1950 began quietly at Hiltonbury Farm. There were no great celebrations to mark the arrival of a new decade, just illness, winter weather and the familiar work of keeping a busy family farm running. [Read more…] about Andy Vining’s Podcast: My Mother’s Diaries 1948 – 1976: Episode 14 — January and February 1950