Fred recalls his memories from bygone farming days

I was recently contacted by Farming Life reader Fred Faulkner who was interested in some snippets of reminisces with the Bygone Days page.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

I was delighted to hear from Fred and only to happy to include his memories in this week’s page.

Fred writes: “Having seen the article regarding YFC stock judging competitions it brought back a memory of an incident that occurred at a YFC stock judging competition at Omagh in 1959.

“I was then a member of Cookstown YFC ,and we entered a team in the poultry section.

The Milk Marketing Board, at the end of June 1982, cut its last links with an era. The familiar sight and sound of the milk lorry, with cans rattling finally disappeared, as the last in the fleet used for collections from farmers was handed over to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. The lorry, first registered in 1965, had been used in the Enniskillen area, the milk being delivered to the West Ulster Farmers’ Co-Operative at Irvinestown. Mr Terry McLaughlin, left, farm services manager of the Milk Marketing Board for Northern Ireland, handing over to Mr George Thompson, director of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, the last of the board’s milk collection lorries, assisted by drivers Andy Moore and David Stephenson. Picture: News Letter archivesThe Milk Marketing Board, at the end of June 1982, cut its last links with an era. The familiar sight and sound of the milk lorry, with cans rattling finally disappeared, as the last in the fleet used for collections from farmers was handed over to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. The lorry, first registered in 1965, had been used in the Enniskillen area, the milk being delivered to the West Ulster Farmers’ Co-Operative at Irvinestown. Mr Terry McLaughlin, left, farm services manager of the Milk Marketing Board for Northern Ireland, handing over to Mr George Thompson, director of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, the last of the board’s milk collection lorries, assisted by drivers Andy Moore and David Stephenson. Picture: News Letter archives
The Milk Marketing Board, at the end of June 1982, cut its last links with an era. The familiar sight and sound of the milk lorry, with cans rattling finally disappeared, as the last in the fleet used for collections from farmers was handed over to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. The lorry, first registered in 1965, had been used in the Enniskillen area, the milk being delivered to the West Ulster Farmers’ Co-Operative at Irvinestown. Mr Terry McLaughlin, left, farm services manager of the Milk Marketing Board for Northern Ireland, handing over to Mr George Thompson, director of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, the last of the board’s milk collection lorries, assisted by drivers Andy Moore and David Stephenson. Picture: News Letter archives

“Unfortunately I could only muster two other members to take part, so I persuaded a student at Loughry Agricultural College to make up the team of four

“At that time, I don’t know about now, but Loughry students could become honorary members of the local YFC

“The student Mary Gamble from Castlederg, now Mrs Fred Faulkner, was studying for her poultry diploma at the college.

“The hens to be judged were classed as ‘Pure bred White Leghorns’ usual markings A B X Y.

Amanda Walker from Newtownbreda, Belfast, pictured in June 1982 holding Brampton Petition, the supreme champion Charolais and overall beef champion at the Saintfield Show. Picture: Farming Life/News Letter archivesAmanda Walker from Newtownbreda, Belfast, pictured in June 1982 holding Brampton Petition, the supreme champion Charolais and overall beef champion at the Saintfield Show. Picture: Farming Life/News Letter archives
Amanda Walker from Newtownbreda, Belfast, pictured in June 1982 holding Brampton Petition, the supreme champion Charolais and overall beef champion at the Saintfield Show. Picture: Farming Life/News Letter archives

“When our turn came to make our deliberations ,Mary was called in first.

“Having made her placings, and on emerging she managed to whisper ‘Look closely under Xs wing’. I managed quietly to convey this to our other two members.

“By the way X was a top class bird, but difficult to see the black feathers hidden under a wing, so we all placed X last.

“When Mary was called in to give her reasons for her placings, initially said to the judges I understood we were to judge a pen of Pure Bred White Leghorns, why was a crossbred included, so naturally I placed her last.

Joan Cunningham from Lisburn pictured in June 1982 with Future Star at the Saintfield Show. Picture: Farming Life/News Letter archivesJoan Cunningham from Lisburn pictured in June 1982 with Future Star at the Saintfield Show. Picture: Farming Life/News Letter archives
Joan Cunningham from Lisburn pictured in June 1982 with Future Star at the Saintfield Show. Picture: Farming Life/News Letter archives

“Everything came to a halt and she was asked to step outside. We all stood around for twenty minutes or more and other clubs as well as ourselves were puzzled as to what was happening.

“Through the grapevine later that day we found out the judges re-adjusted their placings Cookstown YFC came home with winners certificates.”

‘The Men from

the Ministry’

Mr Bob McBride from Crossgar with Goshen Liam, which won the first prize in the Simmental calf class at the Saintfield Show in June 1982. Picture: Farming Life/News Letter archivesMr Bob McBride from Crossgar with Goshen Liam, which won the first prize in the Simmental calf class at the Saintfield Show in June 1982. Picture: Farming Life/News Letter archives
Mr Bob McBride from Crossgar with Goshen Liam, which won the first prize in the Simmental calf class at the Saintfield Show in June 1982. Picture: Farming Life/News Letter archives

In another memory from 1947 Fred recalled: “It was a sultry afternoon in late July 1947, when this saga which I recall vividly took place. On the farm at Annaghteige outside Cookstown my father was in the process of harvesting a three acre field of Italian Rye Grass. The mowing machine was a two horse drawn McCormack with four foot cut.

“I was driving the horses, ‘just old enough to do so’ and my father was sitting perched on another seat beside me, shaving off the piles of cut grass. At that time we had a servant man and a servant woman, needed for the main enterprise on the farm which was then large flocks of free range poultry. As I said it was a blazing hot but sultry afternoon around three pm when a well dressed man appeared at the field gate entrance. Coming round to cut another swathe my father stopped to enquire what he wanted, and I can still see my father’s face on his response. I’m from the ministry of agriculture and I have come to enquire what wages you are paying your labour.

“I should add, my father was generally a mild tempered man, but wiping the sweat from his face said, Can you not see I’m up to my eyes here, trying to finish this field, take a look at that sky , the weather’s going to break, and I have no time to talk to ‘You’.

“With that the man left and we started back to work. About an hour later the man appeared again, this time wanting to know what time we stopped for a bite to eat. Before my father could unleash his thoughts the man said ‘lose the horses out and take a break around about 6 o’clock’ he then turned and left.

“As it so happened my mother had gone in about five thirty and brought out the wicker basket of bread and tea in the usual enamel can. We had just finished a quick ‘al fresco’ when the same man returned this time accompanied by two other men and two women.

“I still recall how adept those people were at tying rye grass and in a couple of hours the field was cut and stooked.

Samantha Prentice clears this jump on her pony Small Order in the 128cm (A, B, C) class at the Saintfield Show in June 1982. Picture: Farming Life/News Letter archivesSamantha Prentice clears this jump on her pony Small Order in the 128cm (A, B, C) class at the Saintfield Show in June 1982. Picture: Farming Life/News Letter archives
Samantha Prentice clears this jump on her pony Small Order in the 128cm (A, B, C) class at the Saintfield Show in June 1982. Picture: Farming Life/News Letter archives

“As my father stabled the horses, the visitors were brought into the house and as I remember enjoyed my mothers home baked bread, butter and tea.”

r If you have any old stories or memories to share, please get in contact with me via email at [email protected]READ MORE: Bygone Days: Welcome for new drive to improve exports from across UK

Related topics: