My Mother's Diaries
1950 at Hiltonbury Farm
1950 carries the story of My Mother’s Diaries into a new decade at Hiltonbury Farm. Through changing weather, family occasions, illness, outings and improvements to the farmhouse, Mother continued to record the everyday rhythm of country life. The cows still had to be milked, the calves, poultry and pigs cared for, and the household kept running. Her diary preserves both the difficulties and the happier moments that made up another year of family life in post-war Hampshire.
The new decade began quietly at Hiltonbury Farm, with illness in the family and cold, wet weather making everyday work more difficult. Despite this, the cows still had to be milked morning and evening, while the calves, poultry and ever-demanding pigs needed constant care. Indoors, washing, cooking, sewing and mending continued around the warmth of the kitchen range. New windows and cement work brought some disruption but also welcome improvements to the farmhouse, while a pedigree Jersey bull calf from Hursley offered hope for the future of the herd. Jennifer’s birthday tea and the Growmore Club dinner and quiz provided happier moments, and by late February the lengthening days offered the first faint promise of spring.
January & February 1950
March & April 1950
Spring arrived slowly at Hiltonbury Farm, bringing brighter days alongside cold winds, rain and even late snow. With no electricity, Mother’s days remained full of washing, ironing, sewing, gardening and caring for the family. There were dances, cinema visits and a busy Mothering Sunday, while birthdays for Mother and Andrew filled the farmhouse with relatives and friends. Farm life brought ninety-four eggs in one day, a pig killed for food and 175 day-old chicks to be cared for. New furniture and decorating improved the house, while kittens and puppies added to the bustle. April ended with John, Frank Dean and Roger travelling to Wembley for the Cup Final, returning near midnight to eggs and bacon and another warm Hiltonbury welcome.
May & June 1950
May and June brought warmth, laughter and seemingly endless activity to Hiltonbury Farm. The farmhouse received its spring clean while Mother washed curtains, painted, sewed and darned, often welcoming family and friends for tea or supper. Outside, chicks hatched beneath broody hens, flowers and tobacco seeds were planted, and the hay was cut, turned and gathered from the fields. There were dances, picnics, trips to Highcliffe, Burnham Beeches and the Royal Counties Show, while the welcome news that all but two cows had passed their TB test brought great satisfaction. Through the farm work, children, visitors and countless cups of tea, Mother captured a happy post-war summer filled with companionship and the simple pleasure of ordinary family life.
July & August 1950
July and August brought an unsettled summer of sunshine, storms and seemingly endless rain. Work began on Hiltonbury’s new cowshed, with thirty-six standings and five milking machines powered by a Lister engine—a major step forward for the farm despite there still being no electricity. Meanwhile, John struggled to cut and gather the oats, barley and wheat during the few dry spells. Family life remained busy: Jennifer travelled to France, Andrew was accepted by St Probus School, and Bet celebrated her twenty-first birthday. There were agricultural shows, tennis, picnics, beach outings and preserves made from peas, plums and blackcurrants. Mother also won prizes for her eggs, jelly, shallots, roses and blackberries, but as August ended, relentless rain left the corn at risk and the harvest in serious difficulty.
September & October 1950
Autumn brought important changes to Hiltonbury Farm. Jennifer won first prize at Eastleigh Carnival dressed as an Arab on her pony, while Andrew left home to begin school at St Probus in Salisbury—a proud but emotional moment for Mother. Harvest work continued alongside autumn sowing, and the farm won second prize for its roots at Romsey Show. The family also began using the new cowshed and milking machines, and the arrival of Hiltonbury’s first pure Jersey heifer marked the beginning of an important new bloodline. There were dances, films, football and a memorable visit to the Dairy Show in London, followed by dinner and Carousel. Yet the happiness of that outing was tempered by returning home to discover that Smudge the cat had died.
November & December 1950
The closing months of 1950 brought family celebrations, winter work and preparations for Christmas. Andrew returned from St Probus for half-term, the children built a great Bonfire Night fire, and Mother won two prizes for eggs at the poultry show. There were also disappointments, including the loss of a bull calf and several ducks killed by a fox. Mother and John celebrated their wedding anniversary with friends and later enjoyed a special London outing to see Ivor Novello’s King’s Rhapsody. In December, Andrew proudly appeared as Alice in his school production of Alice in Wonderland. Heavy snow made farm work harder, while Mother sewed, baked, prepared thirteen chickens and readied the house for Christmas. The year ended quietly, with the family together and hopeful for 1951.