Late Great ploughmen

[Howard150]

In a long forgotten era, long before plant breeders, power harrows, exotic fertilisers and agrochemicals, then the most important man on the farm was the ploughman. Every day was a Ploughing Match. People used to walk round on a weekend looking over hedges to see what others had done.
The most revered of these ploughmen just happened to be the champion ploughman of the local Ploughing Society.
In the late forties and fifties, that man at Scarcroft & District was Pete Williams, closely aided and abetted by his best mate Bob Newby. Pete died young. Bob died last year in his eighties. Two great ploughmen.
This weekend I was given two of Pete’s certificates, the first being one from 13th November 1948, given by Ransomes for the best work done with a Ransomes plough. There are quite a few of these about still. Treasured possessions.
Whilst the Ransomes certificate is rare, the second one, given by the Ford Motor Company for the best performance with a Fordson Tractor in 1955 is much rarer, possibly for work with an E27N or early Major Diesel given the clenched fist emblem at the bottom of the certificate.
Given that these two were the greatest ploughmen at Scarcroft, neither of them would have had the same degree of success without Billy Rhodes. Billy used to take all the new trailer ploughs and set them up for them. A master. Great men all three.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Thought we had them but they need a dust off i managed to find these in the loft.
Awarded to Dad at 2 local matches in 1952.

 

[Bury the Trash]

found another one ,

 

[Ley253]

Note the standard of the handwriting on them! Truly from a forgotten era.
Was there not a commemorative clock or similar given to all competitors at the national in times gone bye? Have vague memories of one on the wall in a late friends cottage.

 

[tomlad]

Is that copperplate ?

 

[Bury the Trash]

Is that copperplate ?

No , it's a surface rusty Dowdeswell Ycn point ..?

 

[MrNoo]

Is that copperplate ?

Yes, my grandfather had the most amazing handwriting, just like that, think a lot of the oldies wrote like that.

 

[Gordy1]

Yes, my grandfather had the most amazing handwriting, just like that, think a lot of the oldies wrote like that.

That was when the infants were taught how to write properly at school, today they let them write in scribble.

 

[Ley253]

The days of copybooks, line after line of torture! And different schools used a different writing style, god help you if you changed school!

 

[Muddyroads]

The first man I ever worked for (if helping out at the age of 10 counts as working) was Les Goodwin. Uncle Les as he became known to me was the first British world ploughing champion, winning it in Germany in 1958. A more genuine, decent and humble man you could never wish to meet, and there is rarely a day that he doesn’t cross my mind.
I knew him as the man rather than the ploughman and this seems to be an appropriate thread to ask if anyone has any knowledge of him?

 

[Ley253]

Indeed I do,If he was the Hereford man I am thinking of. His address sticker is still in my phone index. Just below the details of John Gwilliam. Two fine ploughmen who I was lucky to know, and very privileged to be able to call friends.

 

[Muddyroads]

Indeed I do,If he was the Hereford man I am thinking of. His address sticker is still in my phone index. Just below the details of John Gwilliam. Two fine ploughmen who I was lucky to know, and very privileged to be able to call friends.

That’s him. I called in to see his wife last year on spec but unfortunately she was out. Did you know him when he was competing?

 

[ploughman1963]

Im not sure if they were his or his dad's but Dave Parry from Cruckton/Shrewsbury had some certificates like that. His dad was Dai Parry, a trailer ploughman, who had passed long before I met Dave.
George Corfield from Myndtown was a top ploughman in his day excellent judge and true gentleman

 

[Ley253]

That’s him. I called in to see his wife last year on spec but unfortunately she was out. Did you know him when he was competing?

No, I only met him in later years.He was often the man standing in my plot searching for some aspect that he could award a point for! I do remember John Gwilliam winning what I believe was his last tractor match, It was ,I believer Radnor Vally, and he used a borrowed fergy outfit. He treated the card with great care remarking that" I dont get many of these now" Then he went back to Horse ploughing!

 

[ploughman61]

The first man I ever worked for (if helping out at the age of 10 counts as working) was Les Goodwin. Uncle Les as he became known to me was the first British world ploughing champion, winning it in Germany in 1958. A more genuine, decent and humble man you could never wish to meet, and there is rarely a day that he doesn’t cross my mind.
I knew him as the man rather than the ploughman and this seems to be an appropriate thread to ask if anyone has any knowledge of him?

Researched him on the internet last night, would liked to have met him, sounds like he was a real gentlemen, very humble man, also good friend of John Harris, which i assume is the John Harris we all know

 

[kverneland es 80]

RIP https://www.agriland.ie/farming-new...ng-tragic-death-of-former-ploughing-champion/

 

[ploughman61]

RIP https://www.agriland.ie/farming-new...ng-tragic-death-of-former-ploughing-champion/

So sad to hear this news, a truly great ploughman first person to win both conventional and reversible world titles.

 

[Howard150]

Great great ploughman and a very well respected gentleman. Phenomenal record of achievement ploughing, winning the British 6 times, the World conventional 3 times and the world reversible once. Sad Sad loss.
Many of us ploughing this part of the world could never understand why he never got national recognition in the form of an OBE or MBE. Others have whose achievements are less. Rest in peace Graeme.

 

[arcobob]

Great great ploughman and a very well respected gentleman. Phenomenal record of achievement ploughing, winning the British 6 times, the World conventional 3 times and the world reversible once. Sad Sad loss.
Many of us ploughing this part of the world could never understand why he never got national recognition in the form of an OBE or MBE. Others have whose achievements are less. Rest in peace Graeme.

I have a notion you may know the answer to your question.

 

[ploughman1963]

A quiet man who considered his advice carefully before offering it - but gems of wisdom that were very helpful and much appreciated