Many people these days will NOT know the name Jack Hargreaves, but when I was a wee Whipper-Snapper he was one of my great heroes.
He had a TV programme called 'Out of Town', where he sat in a garden shed, and talked about all things bucolic. It was one of those very relaxed programmes that taught you so much, without really trying.
He didn't dress-up, he sucked on an old pipe, spoke with a country drawl, and he fiddled with bits of string. He was the epitome of an easy-going countryman. Here he is driving his Horse and Trap; not unlike the one we had as children in my native Surrey village of Lingfield.
Many years later, here I am (in about 1975) outside my original Farmhouse in S W France (below), driving a very similar Horse and Trap.
The Trap was mine, but the Horse (Joe) belonged to some friends who were visiting in an old Gypsy Caravan. They were travelling from the North to the South of France; an eco-trip.
When our friends reached the South Coast of France, after SIX months on the road, they sold both Horse and Caravan. If I'd known they were going to sell, I would have made an offer.
The Caravan had been bought in Ireland, and was of the type knows as 'An Open Lot', the Horse came from London, and had been working as a Rag-n-Bone-Man's Horse. He was a Welsh Cob, and behaved perfectly.
This below is the Caravan that Joe pulled, with me and our first two small children. Jack Hargreaves would have approved!
The pictures above remind me of scenes from the series Little House on the Prairie, which was so popular here when my children were little.
ReplyDeleteI remember it. There was always a good moral point to every story.
DeleteA lovely picture of slow rural life. Once upon a time.......
ReplyDeleteYes, I loved it.
DeleteOh yes, that's a blast from the past. We used to watch him on our ancient black and white TV set. It was very cosy and comforting.
ReplyDeleteI think it was the first programme I remember really enjoying.
DeleteDidn't he used to be on the childrens programme " How" ? I loved that. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteWasn't that with Fred Dineage? I don't remember the others. We all had to say "How" at the beginning of each show!
DeleteI used to love Jack Hargreaves, such a calm, wonderful voice and such knowledge. He reminded me of my Grandad an old Surrey farmer type who taught me and my sister so much about country matters and caring for animals. He had a Welsh cob called Rollo and we kids would sit on his broad back, no saddle and he would plod along, patient and very safe. He was a great work horse and as gentle as a lamb. A lovely post today, thank you it has brought back many happy memories. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteJoe was a wonderful horse. As he'd been a rag-n-bone man's horse, he'd learned to do everything by word of mouth. You didn't even have to hold the reins. I'd love to have bought him.
DeleteHave been reading your 'observations' for quite a while but not commented. I loved these programmes and always wished that I could have a rummage in the shed ! His step-son Simon Baddeley (who's the boy on your photo, has gathered as many of the old programmes as possible and as had them digitised for posterity. He occasionally blogs about his home in a small village in Corfu and is a good racconter, especially over a long lunch.
ReplyDeleteHis programmes were always so 'reassuring'. I used to feel as if everything was OK after watching him.
DeleteI read an article recently about the horse manure crisis in New York City just as electric and petrol power came in to "save the day."
ReplyDeleteStrangely enough, Jack Hargreaves Out of Town show is back on tv. Showing on nostalgic channel Talking Pictures (Sky 328). There's an episode on tomorrow (Wed) at 7:00pm where he goes fly fishing on The River Test.
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