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THIS week, Richard Tinsley notches up 50 years of working on the farm at Little Hall, Bettisfield.
He started work at Little Hall aged 15, working for Peter and Eileen Edwards as a tractor driver in 1960.
He worked for them for around 25 years until they retired and their son Roger took over, and Richard has worked for him for another 25 years.
“I wouldn’t swap it and would do it again,” he said, and since he turned 65, is still working there three days a week.
It’s a real family affair for the Tinsley’s at Little Hall, with Richard’s son Brian joining the team part time, helping with relief milking, the stock and tractor driving, and Richard’s teenage grandson Philip also helps out with milking and fencing duties.
Mr Tinsley said: “Roger was three when I started there and it made no difference when I started working for him in 1986, we just carried on.
“We have always got on very well.”
As well as tractor driving, Mr Tinsley worked with sheep, pigs and poultry in the early days, with some milking at one time.
“I enjoy every aspect of the job, especially harvest time when apparently I move up a gear!” he said.
“Obviously the industry has changed a lot over the years and has lost a lot of its traditional skills, and today it’s a hard job for youngsters.”
Farmer Roger Edwards said: “Other employees have come and gone, but Richard - or Dick as we call him - has remained constant, he has always been here and even used to babsysit for me and my brothers.
“I value his loyalty, steadfastness and honesty - he is not ruled by the hours, he will stay until the job is done and his knowledge of the farm is immense.”
Mr Tinsley remembers starting at the age 15 on a wage of £6 a week for 63 hours’ work - and during the foot and mouth outbreak of 1968-9 he lived at Little Hall for three months to try and help keep the farm free of infection.
Mr Tinsley and his wife Pauline, who live in Hanmer, both enjoy country and western dancing and have three children and five grandchildren.
Mrs Tinsley works as senior cook at Penley Hospital, where she has worked for 21 years.
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