Milking the cows, looking after the pigs, sheep and bull, Bob Bearup who has lived in Upchurch all his life, loved his work at Horsham Farm where he started as a school leaver in 1958.
“I had always wanted to work with animals”, he says. “I could have gone to college to learn more about it but ‘Nutty’ Gransden who taught me everything about livestock at the farm advised me not to. I later got diplomas in dairy and beef production by studying full time. This qualified me as a stockman in those areas”
“The day began at 5 a.m. with the milking of cows”, says Bob. “This was followed by breakfast. After that the sheds were cleaned out and washed then the young stock fed. Next, the main work of the day took place with haymaking in summer which I hated because I was away from the animals. Afternoon milking took place at 3 p.m. then the sheds were cleaned out again before the day ended.”
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| Horsham Farm Upchurch. |
Horsham Farm consisted of 100 acres of land and was managed by Lyn Jenkins who employed several other men. These included Sid Jenkins, ‘Nutty Gransden’, Terry Tomkins and Bob Trice. Kath Jenkins, Lyn’s wife, also helped out. The farmland and house were rented from Rugby Portland Cement Company and the farm produced milk and beef with a herd of 25 to 30 Sussex cows. Sheep and pigs were also produced. Mrs Bearup and Mrs Sketchley from Chaffes Lane and Mrs Trice from Drakes Close were regular seasonal workers who prepared the Christmas fowl annually in December.
A fatal disaster almost occurred when Lyn Jenkins got gored by the farm bull. After instructing the workers not to go into the pen unaccompanied, he broke his own rule when he entered it alone. The bull immediately charged and knocked him to the ground then began goring him. Bob says, “Terry Tomkins and I tried to help after Lyn shouted out. As I wrestled with the bull it dragged me towards the farm building. I knew I had to do something quickly otherwise if it pinned me against the wall I was finished. I managed to grab its nose ring and twist it hard until the animal fell on its side.” Lyn Jenkins luckily escaped with superficial injuries while Bob remained uninjured.
There was also a comical side to the work and Bob remembers haymaking on the hay cart with Eric Woolley and Terry Tomkins when a wheel came off and all of them were flung to the ground amongst the hay which ended in laughter after an awkward moment.
Horsham Farm finally ceased production in 1984 due to pressures of the European Economic Community after operating as a working farm for centuries. The house with eight acres was sold to a private buyer while the remaining farmland was rented to Bill Barling from Poot Lane. Although Bob was sad about the farm closure he describes his experience there as, “One of the best times of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.”
David Wood, who was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village.
David Wood
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