Monthly Update - May 2025
It seemed an obvious choice; sitting on a hillside on the Scottish Borders, a Highland cow with beautiful horns and a Blackface ewe with twin lambs at foot staring at me. I was twelve years old and my mind was made up, I would be a farmer. My background was dodgy as I was born in London and we were living near the centre of Glasgow. The impetus for this decision was that I wanted to do something useful in the world when then it was Chinese children starving, AND avoid the agony of a public transport commute which my six foot four dad continually complained about, along with endless moans about his boss in BP Clyde Tanker Company.
When we and graduated in Agriculture years later we worked on a large University farm and, guess what, after 3 years my daily complaint was about my boss. So, with the chance to work for a family farming company, with a Christian in charge and in an area of outstanding natural beauty, we both jumped at It and came to Rushall farm.
As part of their annual programme the Bradfield Young Farmers would come to St Andrews Church and celebrate Plough Sunday, when an old horse plough would be carried into the church. Rogation followed in better weather, always fun with a tractor and trailer ride around the farms asking God to bless the crops, livestock, the River Pang and our homes and families; Lammastide came in summer, when a sheaf of corn and loaf of bread made from the new season’s wheat were brought into the church at the start of harvest. And then the big Harvest Festival when thanks was given that all had been safely gathered in.
With two new homes and barns on a fresh site at Rushall as newcomers on the block we were offered first stop on the Rogation Service. They prayed for the farm and that those living and working here would be blessed and be a blessing to the community and the world we are here to serve. They were big prayers and really we had no idea what that would mean. So the bumpy ride started with times of great sadness, lots of mistakes but always thankful to be living here. After 40 years of running the farm, I did learn how to look after cows and sheep and grow wheat, barley and beans. BUT the thousands of children and people who have had a meaningful connection with RUSHALL FARM, we could never have imagined when we stood with shiny buildings and new houses all those years ago.
Rogation this year is on Sunday 1st June at 3-30pm starting at Rushall Manor with tea afterwards RG76DL. All welcome.