Fred has lived in North Shropshire for 60 years, the last 40 at Little Soudley. He grew up on a farm near Adderley. When he left school he went straight to work on another farm. When he married for the first time he worked a Dairy Farm at Ipstones in North Staffordshire. He had no hired help and remembers the climate as cold and wet. He moved to Little Soudley Farm as the tenant in 1963. He grew potatoes, sugar beet and kept poultry and a small dairy herd on the 116 acres. He gradually focussed on the herd and built it up to 120 milking cows. The farm extended to 200 acres by the time he purchased it.
In 1996 Fred rationalised his financial situation and sold off the Dairy herd and milk quota, letting most of the land to a neighbouring farmer. He keeps a few beef cattle and grows corn on 60 acres. He has diversified into providing 19 moorings on the canal that runs alongside. This provides an income stream without a great deal of capital involvement. The farm is part of a pilot arable stewardship scheme with a 6 metre grass headed bank around arable fields. The area is set aside for birds and includes a beetle bank. The farm also includes 18 1/2 acres of ancient woodland.
Fred became the North Shropshire District Councillor for Hinstock, in 1978. He was Chair of the Council between 2000-2002. His particular interest is on economic regeneration and representing local people. He is currently Chair of the North Shropshire Local Strategic Partnership and particularly enjoys being Chair of the North Shropshire Furniture Scheme, recycling unwanted furniture and providing employment and training in the process. Fred played cricket for Market Drayton and still coaches at Norton in Hales and Cheswardine village schools. |
