George Spenceley recalls his memories of training to be a farmer in Yorkshire in the 1940's.

I was now working on a farm belonging to Fred Broadwith. One July evening I went along with the family to pay a visit to Fred's brothers Charles and Richard near Thirsk. Once there the men chatted about every day things on the farm before going around the outbuilding looking at the stock and then the conversation got onto that years crops.

'You will have to see the barley in yonder field' said Richard 'it's going to be a very good crop' When we reached the field Fred walked far into it before pulling of one or to ears of barley. I must have been standing there with a blank expression on my face.

'Look at this lad' he said as he counted the grains of seed on each ear. 'Thirty-two seeds per head, this is going to be good'. There was a very slight breeze causing the whole field of ripening barley to wave about slightly causing the heads to whisper slightly.

I asked how did he know when the corn would be right for harvesting. Fred took a grain and broke it between his teeth and explained how the grain of barley should look.

It was a couple of weeks later, time for the Masham show, and Fred had decided to to show off his young bull 'Snotterton Democrat' along with a shorthorn cow and some farm produce.

Ref 31-Arshire cow

We got a place with both the cow and the bull, which meant I would have to walk the ring in the grand parade with one of our animals in front of a large crowd of spectators. Shy but proud of what we had won I decided I would lead the shorthorn cow.

Slowly as the procession of animals walked around the parade ring listening to the crowds of cheering people we all had to form into a line in front of the judges. As I turned my animal she decided to tread on one of my feet and stood there.

I tried pushing her back but she was staying put, the pain was terrific. The crowds seeing I was having a problem, started to laugh and cheer, but like a donkey the silly animal stood her ground.

What a relief it was when one of the local farmers seeing my predicament came out of the crowd and moved the animal into line. Problem solved.

George Spenceley, 2002