MY FAMILY 



the 700 acres remaining. Failing this, I felt the 

 best thing to do would be to keep only the 350 

 acres of the home farm on which we carried on our 

 horse dealing, and which I felt we could manage 

 without it taking too much time from our business — 

 which really was the most important, and which 

 we had gradually built up. 



I knew there was a man named Messenger who 

 was helping a farmer living not far from us, and I 

 knew he came of a respected family and I thought 

 he would be just the man we wanted if he would 

 care to take it on. I had never actually met him, 

 but I got in touch with him and he came to see me 

 and we went all round the farm. I said : " Well, 

 there it is — I don't expect you to make a lot of 

 money, but do you think you could take it on and 

 make us a reasonable profit ? My father has 

 always done so and there is money to carry it on." 

 I remember I rather liked his reply. He said : 

 " All right. If you like to take me I will do my 

 best for you." And so we came to terms and he 

 was with us for about 20 years when he got killed 

 in crossing the railway. His brother, Richard, 

 was at that time farming at Holdenby, and he 

 carried on for us in his place, and still continues 

 to-day. We were very lucky to have such 

 practical and capable and honest men to look after 

 out farming interests. 



As I have related, I had two brothers. My 

 older brother was so different to John or myself. 



15 



