JOHN EDWARDS

CATALOGUE

RECORDING

SUMMARY

BORN: Exmouth, Devon, 1926

LIVED: Exford

RECORDING MADE: 2001

RECORDING LENGTH: 3 hours 32 minutes

John Edwards was 12 in 1938, when his parents bought a run-down farm at Exford. He spent idyllic holidays driving the tractor, too busy for children's parties.

He volunteered for the army and then went to agricultural college. Passionate about the farm, and passionate about Exmoor, he says we should realise how ignorant we are and learn more about what's under our feet. He is a county councillor, active within the National Farmers Union, and a long-serving member of the National Park Committee. He was appointed in 1972, before local government reorganisation, and says meetings even then were a bear garden. Tenacious, and committed to the farming community, he thrives on all the work. He and his wife Jackie, who runs the tourism side of the business, spend their evenings side by side at their computers.

He took over from his father in 1953. His son, Oliver, has now taken over from him, although he still does all the fencing. It keeps him sane, he says.

John Edwards died in December 2016.

Photograph by Mark J. Rattenbury