Embedded Files
A son of the soil
A son of the soil
Medal honour after 55 years down on the farm.
1982 Tamworth Herald reported by Sue Fisher
Farming has been Percy's life.
Percy Wallis was just eight years old when he went to work down on the farm.
He tended to calves, fed hens, and fetched and carried. At the end of the day, his reward was a pint of fresh milk and a huge round of bread and honey.
Percy helped out at weekends and after school.
When he grew up he went back to the same farm - and he is still working there today, at the age of 73.
He looks back on his 55 years' unbroken service with four generations of the mercer family at Manor Farm, Harlaston, with affection as well as pride.
The couple outside their bungalow which overlooks the village church where they regularly attend services.
It is a record that has bought him many awards. He has met Prince Charles, the Duchess of Kent and the Duke of Gloucester.
And next week comes the biggest honour of all. The British Empire Medal, awarded in the Queen's birthday honours, is to be presented to him by the Vice Lord-Lieutennant of Staffordshire at a special ceremony in County Hall.
Wife there.
His wife Winnie will be there, and so will his employer, Mr Roger Mercer.
The son of a gardener, Percy was born in the cottage next door to Harlaston Post Office.
"When I was a lad, Manor Farm was run by a Mr Thomas Lees, and I used to love helping out, especially at harvest time," he recalled.
"One of my jobs was to carry beer in gallon-size stone jars to the men in the fields. They could have as much beer as they liked because they never stopped working. The jars were very heavy and I used to get very thirsty carrying them, so I stopped on the way for a cupful. The men were so pleased to see me they always gave me another one. When the days work was over they got more beer and I had my pint of milk."
Added Percy: "Farming was hard work back then - everything had to be done by hand. The men started at a quarter to six in the morning and finished when they finished. But you never heard them grumbling!"
Percy's first full-time job on the farm was a general hand, but then he took over as herdsman.
The Mercers kept pedigree Dairy Shorthorns and later friesians, and Percy's pride and joy was getting the animals ready for showing.
Winnie and Percy proudly display some of the trophies won at agricultural shows all over the area.
He took them to shows all over the area, winning numerous trophies.
"We went to Ashbourne and Canwell, to the county Show at Stafford and of course to the Tamworth Show. Tamworth was a jolly good show, they used to get 10,000 people there on August Bank Holiday. But then the holiday was changed and it just seemed to flop after that. It was a great shame."
When Percy married almost 50 years ago - he and Winnie celebrate their golden wedding anniversary next year - he earned under £2 a week.
There was no money for luxuries, but there weren't any complaints either. Like almost everyone else in the country, the couple kept hens and a pig, and made their own delicious black puddings, faggots and pork pies.
During the War, Percy served in the Home Guard, and he has also been a Special Constable.
He and Winnie - they have a son and three grandsons - have lived for the last 11 years in a bungalow in the entrance to Manor Farm. Percy keeps the garden and flower beds in immaculate order, and although he has been semi-retired for several years, he still enjoys working a few hours a day.
"I don't know what he would do if he had to give up altogether - farming has been his life," Mrs Wallis said.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse