Thanks so much, Mark, for uploading this - it has brought back very many happy memories. I first stayed with Dick & Lorna French at Brendon Barton in 1968 and continued to do so frequently for very many years. They were both a huge influence on my life. They're sadly missed Still visit Exmoor regularly these days staying at the Blue Ball at Countisbury. The singing, as you rightly say, always seemed to take place at the Rockford. Happy days! John Shortland
Sad to think this way of life has more or less ended! Me and my mother, Margaret Pierson, would Travel to Exmoor every year , to deliver a stallion called, Park spirit! to run with Dick French’s , mare’s! Every year Dick and Lorna French , would sell there Foals at the stow on wold horse fair in the Cotswolds which has now sadly finished! Dick’s foals went on to become some very good Horses in the show jumping and national hunt racing world , by using his stallion French chalk! And my mum’s stallion’s Park spirit , and Harvey spirit! In 1981 I stayed for 6 weeks summer holiday with Dick and Lorna at Brendon Barton Farm ! I was 8 years old and it was one of the best times ever ! We would go to Rockford inn with my sister and dick In his series 3 Land Rover, I particularly remember a few of the rude song ‘s , thou I was mainly interested in the space invader machine that was at Rockford, and I would feed it with the £5 dick had given me for working on the Farm! In 1986 we went pony gathering for Jim Saunders for full day on my pony stricker! And the following day for dick for the Brendon sales , I got my legs rubbed Raw from so much riding on the moor gathering the Exmoor pony’s That I had to we’re some ladies nylons,highly embarrassing for a 13 year old lad , but apparently jockeys were them so that was ok! I last stayed at Brendon Barton Farm in 1989, and that was the last time I had been to Exmoor, I last seen Dick and Lorna in 1997 at stow Fair , and John Ridd who worked for dick and Irish paddie🍀who passed shortly afterwards ! Dick said in mysterious circumstances he told my mother! And he said he was going for knee operation up in Bristol But sadly dick passed in 1998 in hospital, Lorna passed in 2001 and I do not no what’s happened to Brendon Barton Farm But according to internet search the farm is being operated by a family who bread Exmoor ponies!
They were the best of times and Lorna and Dick the best of people! I’m sitting in the Rockford as I write this. This place holds so many great memories :)
This is a wonderful piece of English history. Thanks.
Thanks so much, Mark, for uploading this - it has brought back very many happy memories. I first stayed with Dick & Lorna French at Brendon Barton in 1968 and continued to do so frequently for very many years. They were both a huge influence on my life. They're sadly missed Still visit Exmoor regularly these days staying at the Blue Ball at Countisbury. The singing, as you rightly say, always seemed to take place at the Rockford. Happy days! John Shortland
Sad to think this way of life has more or less ended! Me and my mother, Margaret Pierson, would Travel to Exmoor every year , to deliver a stallion called, Park spirit! to run with Dick French’s , mare’s! Every year Dick and Lorna French , would sell there Foals at the stow on wold horse fair in the Cotswolds which has now sadly finished! Dick’s foals went on to become some very good Horses in the show jumping and national hunt racing world , by using his stallion French chalk! And my mum’s stallion’s Park spirit , and Harvey spirit! In 1981 I stayed for 6 weeks summer holiday with Dick and Lorna at Brendon Barton Farm ! I was 8 years old and it was one of the best times ever !
We would go to Rockford inn with my sister and dick In his series 3 Land Rover, I particularly remember a few of the rude song ‘s , thou I was mainly interested in the space invader machine that was at Rockford, and I would feed it with the £5 dick had given me for working on the Farm!
In 1986 we went pony gathering for Jim Saunders for full day on my pony stricker! And the following day for dick for the Brendon sales , I got my legs rubbed Raw from so much riding on the moor gathering the Exmoor pony’s That I had to we’re some ladies nylons,highly embarrassing for a 13 year old lad , but apparently jockeys were them so that was ok!
I last stayed at Brendon Barton Farm in 1989, and that was the last time I had been to Exmoor, I last seen Dick and Lorna in 1997 at stow Fair , and John Ridd who worked for dick and Irish paddie🍀who passed shortly afterwards ! Dick said in mysterious circumstances he told my mother! And he said he was going for knee operation up in Bristol
But sadly dick passed in 1998 in hospital, Lorna passed in 2001 and I do not no what’s happened to Brendon Barton Farm
But according to internet search the farm is being operated by a family who bread Exmoor ponies!
They were the best of times and Lorna and Dick the best of people! I’m sitting in the Rockford as I write this. This place holds so many great memories :)