Former Moreton Hall College student reflect on their time there in 1950s and what they have done since

Students from the Moreton Hall College in 1958/9 have reflected on their time at there and what they have done since.

John Addicott, who was born in Whitnash but now lives in Dunster in Somerset, saw the recent coverage in The Courier about Moreton Morrell College celebrating its 70th anniversary.

He, along with six others who attended the college in 1958/9, have stayed in touch over the years and have shared their memories of the college and what they went on to do.

John Addicott

"There were 48 students in our year but only a small number from established farming families.

"It was, however, necessary to have had experience in practical agriculture before one could be accepted by the college.

"When at the college a day would be divided into two halves; practical agriculture and lectures. It was a wonderful course and we all got on so well together.

"We would all loved to have our own farms, but, of course, much capital was required and tenant farms were usually let to established farming families.

"There were a few County Council Farms available but not many.

"In our day it was called The Warwickshire Institute of Agriculture.

"There are seven of us who are still in touch after all these years much due to the hard work of Nick Wilkins of Leamington, now living in Warwick.

"Nick worked in a slaughter house in Coventry when leaving College but later went into transport. "

Speaking about what he went on to do, John said: "I had practical farming experience at Church Hill Farm, Lighthorne and Heathcote Hill Farm, Warwick before Moreton Hall.

"After Moreton Hall I realised that I would never be able to buy my own farm.

"My father had always wanted me to be an auctioneer and I obtained a job as a clerk with Messrs John Margetts and Sons of Warwick who were agricultural valuers and auctioneers and also ran Warwick and Leamington Stock Sales.

"In 1964 I moved to a firm in Taunton called Messrs Morris,Sons and Peard who were Land Agents ,Valuers and Auctioneers where I started Auctioneering and completed my Chartered Surveying exams.

"I then moved to a firm called Messrs Senior and Godwin in Dorset and sold cattle and calves in Sturminster Newton Cattle Market and did all manner of Agricultural Valuing.

"I loved the firm but I wanted so much to be back in West Somerset and I managed to buy an old firm in Minehead called Messrs Chanin and Thomas and enjoyed about 40 years working in West Somerset, Exmoor and the Quantocks."

Roy Allen of Whitnash, now living in Hillmorton in Rugby

"I joined other students at Moreton Hall for the 1958-59 course.

"I was 17 and it was the first time I had been away from home, I missed my mum's cooking and it was the only time in my life I lost weight - I could do with going there again right now.

"In those days our accommodation was in the Hall itself and along with the three other lads I roomed with we found we were given the worst room of anyone, right above the staff room.

"Any small noise would produce the warden and a telling off.

"What may seem odd was that of the four of us I was the only one to continue working in agriculture, which I did for the next 40 years.

"Since retirement my wife and I now run, during the season, a wool depot for Central Wool Growers, and for the last 50 years we have recorded moths for the county moth records.

"It is now 61 years since I left the Hall and what is quite remarkable is the fact that despite being in our 80s or very close to it, we four, John, Jeff, Gus and myself are still above ground and meet up a couple of times a year for a meal and a chat. Haven't we done well."

John Saunders from Meriden, now living in Wales

"Because of my widowed Mother’s circumstances, I needed a grant from Warwickshire CC. to go to college.

"They were not willing to provide one for me to go to Harper Adams Agricultural College; instead, I was advised to go to Warwickshire Farm Institute instead, which I did 1958/59.

"My results there, enabled me to reapply for HAAC, to do a two year National Diploma Course (NDA) which I did 1959/61.

"During my working career, I was a salesman/advisor for regional/national agricultural supplies companies, managing one such company in Mid Wales, where I still live.

"For a period, I returned to practical farming, running pig breeding/fattening units in Bucks. Shropshire and Worcs

"Moreton Morrell gave me a good grounding, as well as the opportunity to pass additional O level exams in Biology and Agricultural Science; as one of the lecturers, David Brazier, ran optional evening classes, and I took the exams at Kineton High School.

"I also took Young Farmers (YFC) proficiency tests in tractor driver (CI), machine milking, root hoeing and singling and hedgelaying, amongst the practical skills that we learnt there.

"As there were only 48 students on the course, mainly resident, it was very easy to make friends - and I have kept in contact with quite a few of them since, and we had a 50th reunion not so long ago.

"Because we are all around 80 now, some are no longer with us; nevertheless I have very happy memories of my year at Moreton Morrell."

David Pearce from Bromsgrove

"My love of the countryside and farming began when I was evacuated to Bromyard.

"I left school at 15 and worked on a mixed farm, until in 1958 I went to Moreton Hall aged 20 where I made long and lasting friendships.

"I enjoyed the work, learning and camaraderie which we still enjoy to this day.

"On leaving Moreton I worked on a large dairy farm milking and bottling the milk.

"After two years the farm was sold, and I went to Denmark to find work. I was there for seven months working on a farm which had dairy, pigs, sugar beet, corn and asparagus.

"Returning home, I was lucky that British Leyland were recruiting to built Minis, the pay was very good, and I was able to buy a small holding.

"I got married and after 13 years of working at British Leyland with a redundancy payment, I was able to pay off my mortgage.

"I had pigs, sheep and did contract milking for 10 years , then bought a piggery and and built a bungalow, which we still live in.

"We had up to 72 sows selling porkers and heavy hogs, 25 suckler cows and 50 ewes.

"I still contracted milking to tide over in tough times.

"I rented 150 acres for grazing and hay.

"We still talk and meet up; in the past we have had several outings to Dunster show.

"I must thank Nick for being the conduit and finding us some years ago and keeping us together."

Geoff Faulconbridge from Coventry

"For two winters I attended day release classes in Leamington arranged by Moreton Hall Agricultural Institute.

"In 1958 I started a one year course at Moreton Hall. I loved it, 50 of us, all roughly the same age. It was the best year of my life. Memorable was the dance held at Studley Ladies College.

"The work was split, half the day theory the other half practical - both of which came easy to me, I was interested in them and absorbed the information through my skin.

"The college staff (I remember Mr Cross) were on top of their job and taught us well. The farm staff were excellent too

"At the end of the course I started at Camp Hill Farm, Beausale, for Mr Breakwell who was unwell.

"As the work at Camp Hill declined, my father sold his farm on the on the edge of Coventry for building.

"Here was an opportunity - I started a milk round canvasing new house owners.

"I started living at home working the milk round first thing in the morning then going to work at Camp Hill.

"Mr Breakwell retired and I did the milk round full time

"After some 10 years my first wife left with our children.

"Some time later I met a young lady with two small children, we married in 1974.

"We both worked hard for 30 years, doing the work ourselves, employing no labour. Sold the round and retired in 1994.

"Six of the students at Moreton, from 62 years ago, plus our wives, meet up a couple of times a year to reminisce and laugh."

Guss Lansbury from Rugby

"On leaving the Warwickshire Institute of Agriculture in July 1959, I returned to farm work. Alas I soon found myself very disillusioned there being little or no hope of being able to farm on one's own.

"So after six months of working in a factory I took a job with J. W. Glovers and Sons agricultural engineers in Rugby.

"I worked there for nearly seven years as a trainee, then a salesman and then finally as assistant manager.

"In 1967 I became aware of the general public's growing interest in gardens and gardening and so (with my partner Clive Ward) I set up a working partnership under the name Landward Garden Care,

"This project met with some success and enabled us to form a Ltd.Co in 1972, trading as Landward Landscape Contracts Ldt.

"I married in 1969 and we have two children. I worked in our company for 35 years enabling us to have a lifestyle we could only dream of in our college days.

"We are still married 50 years later and now have four grandchildren."