Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2007 | Page 43

INTERVIEW
made him quite a favourite.
In more recent years Fred has
become a local celebrity through
appearances on radio, television
and even commercials. A cassette to
raise money for the Earl Mountbatten
Hospice topped the Island album
charts and sold 500 copies. Later
a video also proved a huge seller.
Fred has also enjoyed considerable
success with his ploughing
which had begun behind a horse
at a Fishbourne farm. Later he
developed a love for tractors and
has also won awards in this field.
“Although I loved working
with horses I was really glad
when they went. The poor
animals worked so hard.”
He still vividly remembers the date
he first went to work at Puck House
Farm, having left school at 14. It was
January 4, 1937 and he had saved
up his pennies and could afford the
luxury of a pair of size four boots
for work. They were just 4/6 (around
22p today) from Oliver’s in Ryde.
Life in the 21st century is difficult
to grasp for many of our senior
citizens. When Fred and Vera first
got married their cottage was worth
£200. Today it’s not far off £200,000.
As yet, he has never seen

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a credit card or any form of plastic
money. His generation did not grow
up on credit. They had just what they
could afford and made the most of it.
He once turned down the chance
of buying a small Havenstreet farm
for £2000. He had a young family
and it would not earn him a living
without a full time job as well.

life

Give Fred a wave or toot if you
see him over the garden gate.
Photo above: Fred shearing
sheep in his younger days.
Photo below: Fred pictured with
Phil Legge owner of Brickfields.

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