John Spreadbury 1931 - 2022
Patrick Lawford and John Spreadbury in the early 90's John Spreadbury, came to Stocks aged 19 when we first arrived there, and became headman on the retirement of Reg Whitear in the 1960s and remained on the farm while it expanded with the purchase of Harvestgate Farm from the Biles's in the 60's and Little Stocks Farm from the Henderson's in the 70's, until Patrick Lawford retired from the day to day running of the farm when he reached 80, and John also retired, though he continued to do jobs on the farm, such a spraying for Stephen Horn who was contracted to look after the farm from his own at Bushey Down. John had been gifted Little Stocks Farm in Meonstoke in the 80's, so that he could build houses for himself and his family - his wife Peggy, and children Andrew, Rita and Shaun. John lives there still, but very sadly his son Andrew, who also worked on the farm from an early age, died in May 2021, and is buried in Meonstoke Churchyard. This photo, in a silv...