The Mayflower Centre and Newham City Farm

It includes text about how the farm came about. The frame features photos of two project oral history contributors. One is Jack Tilley, who recruited the young men and, with David Webster, the first farm manager, directed them in their work to build the farm.. The second is Fred Davis, for whom employment at the Farm was his first job upon leaving school at the age of 16. Another photo shows more of the young men including Terry Ringwood, son of a Johnny Ringwood who a long-time senior Council employee. Jack, Fred and Terry were reunited at the launch of the “Straight from the Horse’s Mouth” exhibition after a period of nearly 50 years! Unbeknown to Jack and Fred, they now live a few streets away from each other in Basildon and aim to catch up again from time to time.

Jack and Fred both explain how no one had any previous experience of farm work, how resourceful and dedicated everyone was, how buildings, equipment and animals were donated or acquired with very little money. They give amusing anecdotes about events involving animals and other characters. Their accounts are animated and clearly both have very fond memories, count their experience as valuable and significant in preparing them and shaping their characters for future life. They worked really hard but also had a lot of fun.