Wheat and Chaff - Tony's reading matter
|19:10 PM, Monday, 2 April 2012
This week's scriptwriter is Adrian Flynn. He writes about the book that Tony mentioned tonight.
As he continues to recover from his heart attack, Tony sometimes escapes from the stresses and strains of life at Bridge Farm by taking down an old favourite from the bookshelf. Currently he's re-reading Wheat and Chaff, an anthology of short pieces on country matters by AG Street - a 1950 first edition, with splendid illustrations by Eric Fitch Daglish.
Arthur George Street was one of the most admired writers about agriculture Britain has ever produced. He was born in 1892 at Ditchampton Farm in Wiltshire and worked there under his father's guidance until, seeking to broaden his horizons, he set off for Winnipeg at the age of eighteen.
He remained in Canada for several years, before returning to make his living as a farmer, writer and broadcaster in the UK. His experiences abroad formed the basis of part of his most famous book, Farmer's Glory.
Even when writing, Street always remained a hands-on farmer. When the family dairy business hit trouble during the depression, he decided the best way to survive was by selling directly to the public. After getting up to milk the herd at 4.30 each morning, he would drive round Salisbury selling the fresh milk wherever he could.
It's no wonder that Tony as well as others in Ambridge, such as Oliver and Mike, consider him an inspiration.
Tony's first encounter with Street was probably when he casually flicked through grandfather Dan's farming magazines in the early 1960s. Since then, he's gradually acquired a collection of all Street's main works, including the novel Strawberry Roan. This was made into a film in 1945, with the man later to become the first Doctor Who, William Hartnell, in the starring role.
Tony has never yet managed to drop this fact casually into a conversation, but continues to live in hope the opportunity will one day arise. Well - it's nice to have a hobby while you're convalescing.
Adrian Flynn is an Archers scriptwriter.
- More on A G Street from Wikipedia
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