Agricultural History Review, Volume 52 Part 2 (2004), p. 221

Of London origins, John Veltom came into the ownership of the 341-acre Sindles Farm at the foot of the South Downs in Sussex after a lengthy spell as a farm pupil, manager and tenant farmer. This little book records details not only of the farm itself from Domesday times but Veltom’s personal experience of agricultural change over the past half century. The text is heavy with enjoyable anecdote in which we learn of the devilish complexities of the reaper-binder, the flair and natural eye required to build a decent stack of sheaves, the (to me at least) horrors of ratting at threshing time, the cold and discomfort of tractor driving in pre-cab days and very much more besides. Like most of us (apart from the loony green primitive tendency) Veltom is glad to see the back of the physically-demanding labour exacted by the land from its servants forty-odd years ago, and he applauds the extraordinary developments in technology and mechanization which have eased the farmers’ lot. His story is very much the story of farming; of taking the main chance, spotting an innovation, raising the necessary capital and putting it into practice. But it is also the story of love of and respect for the land. Again, like the vast majority of farmers in this country, Veltom did not have to be pressurized into environmental awareness by suburban Guardian readers; it came naturally to him. Good husbandry and sound rotational practices allied to sensible management of farm waterways and woodlands invariably promote wildlife interests – even to excess in some cases, as witness the pestilential expansion of badger and deer populations in recent years. Again, in common with many farmers, Veltom is apprehensive about the future as the farmer’s primary business, that of producing abundant food of decent quality at reasonable prices, slips inexorably down the ladder of official priorities. The possibilities of diversification into biofuel production, of effecting environmental initiatives and converting buildings to light industrial use are all very well but where does this leave the ‘farmer’? Since it appears that ‘farmers’ as such are trudging steadily along the path to extinction, a new dictionary definition is now probably needed.

John Veltom’s little book, with its unsentimental descriptions of past and present practices and its discussion of the farmers and fields of his own delectable corner of Sussex is a welcome addition to the expanding assemblage of reminiscences and histories compiled by those who both know and feel the land. Here a working farmer has taken the trouble to spell out his own experiences, errors and heartbreaks. All power to Veltom and others who emulate him!