Old Pond publishing days

Tanzin and Xia - a story of two Suffolk Punches

For three years we have been sponsoring the filly Colony Tanzin (left) at the Suffolk Punch Trust, Hollesley Bay. We were really sad to learn that in July she died shortly after the birth of her first foal.

Fortunately, the young foal was fed with her mother's milk containing the colostrum vital to protect the new-born from infection.

The foal, named Xia, needs a foster mother until she can be weaned at six months. The brood mare chosen is Lilly - registered name Dream Flight - who is three-quarters thoroughbred and one-quarter Irish Draft.

Lilly, who has already fostered five foals, took to Xia almost immediately. They bonded well, as Suffolk Trust Head Groom Tracey Pettit confirms: "It's brilliant to see how Lilly has completely adopted the foal, who in turn is doing very well and is quite feisty!"

Our sponsorship is continuing with Xia (right, with Lilly). If you would like a very enjoyable few hours with the Trust at Hollesley Bay or to support them in some other way, you can find their details here.

 

The Tyneham Fordson Major and an NH BB9060 baler

On holiday in Dorset this week, walked along the coast from Lulworth Cove to Tyneham, the village 'adopted' by the military in 1943. The tenants were given a week to pack up and leave but were promised they would be allowed back once the war was over. Successive governments have reneged on this.

However, since the 1970s there has been an increase in access and moves to preserve the buildings. Most are roofless, like the gardener's house here. The church in the background is in good condition.

The farm outbuildings have been worked on to protect them and the implements that remain. The Fordson Major has a roof over its head.

In the well-preserved school building there is a map of the fields with their traditional names: Cowleaze, the Glebe, Starveall.

You can find details about Tyneham's opening times here.

Meanwhile, not far inland, west of the firing range and the clamour of Bestival, today's harvest was under way.

We watched the New Holland BB9060 Rotor Cutter making what looked to be heavy work big-baling straw, powered by an MF 7495.

 

Rubber Track Revolutions DVD commended by Vintage Tractor magazine

In its new products review, the September issue of Vintage Tractor and Countryside Heritage  magazine praises Chris Lockwood's new DVD The Rubber Track Revolution:

'Some spectacular footage allows you to immerse yourself in the sight and sounds of these mighty beasts, while a highly informed commentary makes this a must for every big tractor enthusiast!'

Win a copy of the Heidi M Sands' Appleby Fair book

The online equestrian directory, letstalkhorses is currently running a competition in which you can win a copy of the paperback The Horses of Appleby Fair. The closing date is 9 September.

Agricultural Engineering: the Wrest Park story 1924-2006 book

Agricultural Engineering: the Wrest Park story 1924-2006, edited by Bill Day, Liz Field and Anne Jarvis. hardback, 160 pages inc. approx 130 illustrations. Prices per book, including postage: UK £15; EU £18; rest of the world £20. Obtainable from the institute of agricultural engineers at Cranfield.

In the final chapter of this book Peter Redman, head of the mechanisation service, ADAS, 1998-1993 summarises the value of the work carried out by the NIAE and Silsoe research institute. Firstly, it was of fundamental importance in improving techniques and machines for mechanised farming. In later years it contributed engineering-based science to a wide range of biological processes that were linked to sustainable land use in one way or another.

Pioneering research was often subsumed by the commercial developments that followed and thus to all intents and purposes hidden. 'Furthermore,' argues Redman, 'none of the various stakeholders - farmers, growers, manufacturers and funding bodies - fully appreciated the complexity of the institute's role.'

If you are interested in engineering developments in agriculture, particularly from 1948 onwards when the drive for production was in full swing, you will find lots of information here.

Old Pond summer catalogue 2011 of DVDs and books

The latest Old Pond catalogue supplement, eight pages of new DVDs and books released or published from the end of 2010 until August this year, is now being printed. It will be mailed week commencing 4 July. A copy is now available online for downloading or printing.

Gordon Pearce and Ray Neale at Gaydon

Rain on the second day at the Gaydon vintage truck show in no way diminished the enthusiasm of Gordon Pearce (right in the photograph). He and Ray Neale were signing copies of Alan Spillett's new 'Astran at Arafat' print. For a clearer image of the print and a note about Charles Trace's work with the Point Foundation on whose behalf he commissioned the painting see the blog of 17 April.

Gordon Pearce and Ray Neale were both pioneers on Astran's long-haul trucking routes and passed by Mt Arafat on many occasions. The painting is based on one of the photographs Gordon took all those years ago.

Ashley Coghill's book The Long Haul Pioneers contains some outstanding photographs by Gordon as well as shots of Ray and Gordon themselves.

 

Horses of Appleby Fair book signings by Heidi M Sands

On Friday and Saturday 3 and 4 June Heidi M Sands will be signing copies of her new book The Horses of Appleby Fair at the following venues:

The Old Bookshop, Kirkby Stephen Friday 3 June 11am – 1 pm

Kendal Library Friday 3 June 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm

The Bluebell Bookshop, Penrith Saturday 4 June 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

Westwood Bookshop, Sedbergh Saturday 4 June 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm.

Scrap yard barber shop delights

A customer from Newcastle-under-Lyme writes:

"Our son loves the Massive Machines DVDs and was most anxious to receive Scrap Metal Giants. As a schoolboy he would only go to one particular barber's shop as it was opposite the scrap metal yard and he could spend the waiting time watching their amazing machines. He also admires Steven Vale's stuff & we love Old Pond!"

David Cleveland's monumental books about the East Anglian Film Archive

The East Anglian Film Archive was founded in 1976 by David Cleveland who continued to direct it until 2004. By this time it had grown to a collection of over 100,000 items, including deposits from local BBC and Anglia Television. The archive, owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, is housed along with the Norfolk Records Office in a purpose-designated building in Norwich.

David set out clearly the philosophy of a film archive - that preservation and presentation should go hand in hand. During its heyday the archive was giving up to 250 showings of films a year to all sorts of local groups. I have seen the films at steam fairs, village halls and the Ipswich Corn Exchange, and they were shown in schools, workplaces and many other venues.

The earliest films in the collection date back to 1896. They include scenes, events, trades, buildings and ways of life that would otherwise be lost to view, whether it is an eel-catcher on the Norfolk Broads or a 1960s coffee bar. When David and his colleagues presented the films they communicated their own enthusiasm for them, holding a packed village hall captivated as the projector whirred away.

Later developments at the archive included an MA course in film and television archiving established in 1990. This attracted students from all over the world but is now apparently in jeopardy due to education cuts. There is a programme of digitisation and the release of some of the material on DVD. Old Pond’s Farmers' Films and three 'Bygones' programmes show EAFA footage.

Since his retirement in 2004 David Cleveland has been writing two monumental books, the second of which has just been published. They are packed full of information about the archive’s films, the film-makers and the background to the film-making. These large-format books are highly illustrated with frames from the films. The books can be read through or dipped into; whichever way you approach them, if you have a feeling for social history and film or an affinity with East Anglia you will find it rewarding.

The books are: Films Were Made: a look at films and film makers in the East of England 1896-1996. Volume 1 The Region at Work. Volume 2  Local History. Both are hardbacks 287 x 210 mm by David Cleveland. Each book is £27.

Volume 1 (ISBN 978-0-9558271-2-9, 286 pages), gives a short technical background, then considers the earliest film-makers in the region before dealing with broad themes: Industry, Farming, The Coast, Wartime, Transport, Television Arrives.

Volume 2 (ISBN 978-0-9558271-3-6, 352 pages) takes a regional approach, dealing in turn with films applicable to Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. There are further insights into film-making, including cine clubs, and the cinema in the region.

Both books have full indexes, lists of film-makers and films and a select bibliography. The books can be obtained direct from David Cleveland at PO Box 7608 Manningtree, Essex. He asks for £30 per book including postage. Retail outlets include Jarrolds at Norwich, Heffers at Cambridge and Townsends at Manningtree.