EPISODE · Jun 7, 2026 · 14 MIN
March April 1950
from My Mother’s Diaries – The Hiltonbury Farming Family Story 1948-1976 · host Andy Vining
My Mother’s Diaries – Episode 15March & April 1950 – Spring on the FarmAs winter reluctantly loosened its grip on Hampshire, life at Hiltonbury Farm moved into one of the busiest and most hopeful seasons of the year.March arrived with snow showers, cold winds and muddy fields, but beneath the surface spring was beginning to stir. Seeds were drilled into the land, fertiliser spread across the fields, and the first signs of new life appeared around the farm. The days were filled with milking, egg washing, mending clothes, shopping trips to Winchester and Eastleigh, and the endless stream of neighbours, friends and family who passed through the farmhouse door.The village hall remained the centre of social life, with dancing lessons, whist drives and gatherings bringing warmth to the long evenings. Meanwhile, John balanced the demands of farming with local meetings, football matches at The Dell, and the growing responsibilities that came with running Hiltonbury Farm.As April unfolded, the countryside burst into colour. The orchards and hedgerows began to bloom, calves arrived, and preparations for the busy summer months gathered pace. There were family outings, birthday celebrations, visits from relatives, and plenty of laughter alongside the hard work.Yet this was not simply a story of farming. It was a glimpse into everyday life in post-war Britain—a world where rationing still lingered, money was carefully counted, and communities depended upon one another. Through Mother's diary entries we experience the small triumphs, worries, friendships and routines that made up ordinary family life in rural Hampshire seventy-six years ago.Join me, Andy Vining, as I read and bring to life my mother's diary entries from March and April 1950—two months filled with changing seasons, farming challenges, village life, and the enduring spirit of a family building their future at Hiltonbury Farm.A nostalgic journey back to a Hampshire that has long since disappeared, but whose memories still live on through these remarkable diaries. 🎙️🌱🚜📖
What this episode covers
My Mother’s Diaries – Episode 15March & April 1950 – Spring on the FarmAs winter reluctantly loosened its grip on Hampshire, life at Hiltonbury Farm moved into one of the busiest and most hopeful seasons of the year.March arrived with snow showers, cold winds and muddy fields, but beneath the surface spring was beginning to stir. Seeds were drilled into the land, fertiliser spread across the fields, and the first signs of new life appeared around the farm. The days were filled with milking, egg washing, mending clothes, shopping trips to Winchester and Eastleigh, and the endless stream of neighbours, friends and family who passed through the farmhouse door.The village hall remained the centre of social life, with dancing lessons, whist drives and gatherings bringing warmth to the long evenings. Meanwhile, John balanced the demands of farming with local meetings, football matches at The Dell, and the growing responsibilities that came with running Hiltonbury Farm.As April unfolded, the countryside burst into colour. The orchards and hedgerows began to bloom, calves arrived, and preparations for the busy summer months gathered pace. There were family outings, birthday celebrations, visits from relatives, and plenty of laughter alongside the hard work.Yet this was not simply a story of farming. It was a glimpse into everyday life in post-war Britain—a world where rationing still lingered, money was carefully counted, and communities depended upon one another. Through Mother's diary entries we experience the small triumphs, worries, friendships and routines that made up ordinary family life in rural Hampshire seventy-six years ago.Join me, Andy Vining, as I read and bring to life my mother's diary entries from March and April 1950—two months filled with changing seasons, farming challenges, village life, and the enduring spirit of a family building their future at Hiltonbury Farm.A nostalgic journey back to a Hampshire that has long since disappeared, but whose memories still live on through these remarkable diaries. 🎙️🌱🚜📖
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March April 1950
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