My Mother’s Diaries – The Hiltonbury Farming Family Story 1948-1976

Andy Vining
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A heartfelt journey into the everyday life of a Hampshire farming family Just after the Second World War 1948 until 1976 Read and shared by Andy Vining, these diary entries capture family, farming, love, loss, weather, and the quiet moments that shape a lifetime—preserving a mother’s voice for generations to come.

  1. 4d ago

    May and June 1951

    In May and June 1951, life at Hiltonbury Farm is filled with new arrivals, changing weather and the constant rhythm of family and farm work. Fifty cockerel chicks arrive, Jennifer’s ducklings begin to hatch, one of the farm pigs is slaughtered for the household, and John is kept busy cutting, turning and carting hay from Flexford. There are machinery breakdowns, heavy showers and long days spent watching the skies as the harvest work begins. Away from the fields, Andrew returns from St Probus for the holidays, Janet celebrates her birthday, and the children prepare for dancing displays, school events and family outings. Mother somehow finds time for washing, ironing, baking, gardening, sewing and caring for the animals, all before electricity reached Hiltonbury Farm.

  2. 6d ago

    Trailer May June 1951

    This is a trailer for next Sundays episode we return to Hiltonbury Farm in May andJune 1951, as spring slowly gives way to summer. The weather is never settled for long. There are cold winds,heavy rain and sudden thunderstorms, followed by days so hot that even Mothersays it is too warm for gardening. But life on the farm carries on. Fifty cockerel chicks arrive and must be kept warm in thebrooders. Jennifer carefully watches over a clutch of duck eggs, and beforelong eleven little ducklings hatch—although farm life quickly brings bothhappiness and sadness. One of the family pigs is taken to the slaughterhouse, andMother later collects the pork, ham and offal for the household. Nothing iswasted, and the Sunday lunch is proudly described as “really lovely.” John is busy with the hay at Flexford—cutting, turning,carting and baling whenever the weather allows. Machinery breaks down at theworst possible moment, and everyone watches the skies, knowing that one heavyshower could undo days of work. There are family moments too. Andrew comes home from St Probus, plays in the schoolcricket match and proudly scores twelve runs. Janet celebrates her birthdaywith a party, and the girls rehearse for dancing displays, accompanied by awind-up gramophone that does not always behave itself. Mother somehow keeps everything going—washing, ironing,baking, sewing, gardening, preserving fruit and welcoming a constant stream ofvisitors. And don’t all of it is done without electricity. Join me for May and June 1951—a story of chicks, ducklings,birthdays, cricket and the first great haymaking days of summer at HiltonburyFarm. This is My Mother’s Diaries — The Hiltonbury FarmingFamily Story.

  3. Jul 19

    March and April 1951

    In March and April 1951, the weather causes serious problems at Hiltonbury Farm, with constant rain preventing work on the land. Yet family and farm life continue: new pigs arrive, Jersey heifers calve, chickens need tending and the oats must eventually be drilled. There are anxious visits to hospital as Mother undergoes an operation and Betty is taken ill with appendicitis, but happier moments follow. Andrew comes home from St Probus, Jennifer wins second place at the Ampfield Gymkhana and passes her riding test, and two new cows join the herd. Through it all, Mother washes, irons, sews, teaches dancing and welcomes a steady stream of visitors—quietly recording another busy spring at Hiltonbury Farm.

  4. Jul 17

    Trailer March April 1951

    In this episode, we return to Hiltonbury Farm in March and April 1951, where the arrival of spring brings little relief from the weather. Rain falls day after day, leaving the fields sodden and bringing much of the farm work to a standstill. As Mother writes, the situation is becoming serious, with almost nothing able to be done on the land. But life at Hiltonbury never stops completely. There are pigs arriving on the farm, Jersey heifers calving during the night and chickens that still need to be fed, whatever the weather. John struggles to finish the threshing and drill the oats whenever the ground is dry enough. There are worrying days too. Betty is rushed to hospital with appendicitis, while Mother’s own mother undergoes an operation. Amid all the uncertainty, the family wait anxiously for news. Yet there are happier moments. Andrew comes home from St Probus for the holidays, a new baby named Timothy arrives, and Jennifer competes at the Ampfield Gymkhana, where she wins second place in Musical Chairs and passes her riding test. Through it all, Mother washes, irons, sews, teaches dancing and welcomes a constant stream of friends and relations—all without electricity and often with the washing hanging indoors because of the rain. She never complains. She simply records each day and carries on. Join me for March and April 1951—a story of difficult weather, new life on the farm, family worries and the first hopeful signs of spring at Hiltonbury. This is My Mother’s Diaries — The Hiltonbury Farming Family Story.

  5. Jul 12

    My Mothers Diaries Episode 17 Jan_Feb 1951

    January and February 1951. It includes the snow, family illnesses, Jennifer’s birthday, hundreds of snowdrops—and the memorable evening when mother won a pig at the N.F.U. Ball. January and February 1951 — Winter at Hiltonbury The new year begins beneath a thick covering of snow at Hiltonbury Farm. The chicken arks must be dug out, journeys become difficult, and the children enjoy tobogganing on the Camel Hump. While John buys a new seed drill and orders a new car, illness spreads through the family and among their friends. Yet everyday life continues with washing, ironing, dancing, football, birthday cakes and a constant stream of visitors to the farmhouse. February brings Jennifer’s birthday party, evenings at the pictures and dances with friends. The family picks and bunches hundreds of snowdrops, taking some to loved ones and placing others on Grandfather’s grave. There is also a visit to see All About Eve, a happy weekend in Beaconsfield and one particularly memorable night at the N.F.U. Ball—when Mother unexpectedly wins a pig! Join me for two winter months filled with family life, friendship, farming and the wonderfully ordinary moments preserved in my mother’s diaries.

  6. Jul 10

    My Mothers Diaries Trailer Jan and Feb 1951

    A short trailer about what is coming on Sunday's episode of My Mothers iaries

  7. Jul 5

    November_Dec 1950

    November and December 1950 — The Turning of the Year Winter arrives at Hiltonbury Farm with Bonfire Night, the first snow and preparations for Christmas. There are happy family moments as Andrew returns from boarding school after appering as Alice in his school production of Alice in Wonderland. Mother is kept busy making dresses, baking Christmas cakes, preparing presents and helping to draw thirteen chickens for customers. Farm life brings both good and difficult days, including a lost calf, a determined fox among the ducks and the constant work of caring for the cattle through the freezing weather. Christmas brings church, presents, family gatherings, the Boxing Day hunt, pantomimes, dancing and children skating on the frozen ponds. As John and Mother quietly welcome 1951 with a glass of cherry brandy, they look back on a year of farming, friendship, family life and the many small moments that made Hiltonbury Farm such a special place.

  8. Jul 3

    The trailer for Nov Dec 1950

    Winter arrives at Hiltonbury Farm with snow, Christmas preparations, family celebrations and the everyday challenges of farming life. Listen to this short preview of November and December 1950 — The Turning of the Year.

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A heartfelt journey into the everyday life of a Hampshire farming family Just after the Second World War 1948 until 1976 Read and shared by Andy Vining, these diary entries capture family, farming, love, loss, weather, and the quiet moments that shape a lifetime—preserving a mother’s voice for generations to come.

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