Tony Botfield

Tony was born in 1940. As a small boy he was fitted with a red Micky Mouse gas mask. He went to West Malvern Primary School, and Ledbury Grammar. He remembers the end of the war and returning soldiers, and the Home Guards rifles, tin hats, and greatcoats. He played football, cricket had a bicycle and worked. He learned to drive a tractor, and says you found out why you had been allowed to drive; so you could work with it! He helped his father feed the cattle and sheep, and went rabbiting with him with ferrets and snares, and later with a shotgun at the age of 10. There was a bounty on grey squirrels of 2s. (10p) per tail.

Tony was not much impressed by the combine harvester which his father drove for Mr. Davis-“more of a curiosity than much use” It was towed by a tractor, and must have been a very early model. Perhaps the Jaguar motor car which Mr. Davis also owned was more impressive.

Tony enjoyed the entertainments provided at Malvern Winter Gardens. Big bands were then very popular, and “groups” were just coming into being. He “rather admired” Mr. Hinks, Betty Mellings grandfather, who lived at “Hillview” and had a horse and trap. He also remembers a local farmer (who had better be nameless) who turned his car over on a bend on more than one occasion, after having too much to drink.

Another nameless farmer often seemed to be racing to catch up the departed milk lorry.

George was very much against his son having a career in farming, so in spite of that early taste of country life, Tony had a career in Electronics.