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JACK is the fourth generation . Jack ’ s great grandad Ernest Rangeley started running the farm in the 1940 ’ s during the war . Initially he had pigs and a small dairy herd . When Ernest died in the early 1970 ’ s , James ’ father Melvin took over and came out of the then current milk scheme , moving initially into beef . Up until the mid-70 ’ s there was nothing but green fields all around Meadow View .
However , the march of progress was soon upon them and a local firm of housebuilders , purchased and built on a large piece of land across from the farm . Not long after the new estate was complete , the shrewd Melvin came up with a cracking idea , why not set up a farm shop to serve the local people and more so the brand-new housing estate opposite . Back then this was ground-breaking stuff . The farm shop opened in the early 80 ’ s after they had converted the cowshed and byre to accommodate it .
James ’ s mother , Christine , ran the shop alongside his sister , Tracy , which proved to be a great success at the time , selling home grown and local produce to the local community . The shop was always very busy on a Friday and Saturday . If they had any over production , they sold that on at market . But as we know , progress never stops and times change , so with the advent of the supermarkets getting bigger and bigger , the shop became less and less busy . Eventually Christine had had enough , and they closed the shop .
Melvin and Christine continued to live in Kirkburton , not
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too far from Meadow View . With Melvin all but retired , James decided that he needed another income in addition to what his small herd of beef cattle brought in , so he decided to trade as a dry stone waller . This , as we know , is a very skilful trade and very physical . James established a very good reputation and was in constant demand , so I was not surprised to hear he actually did this for some twenty years ! Whilst still doing the walling , he had met wife Suzanne on a blind date |