Hay Days

Memoirs of well-known Welsh cattle breeder John Beynon 'Penlan' from St Davids in west Wales, written before he died in 2021. His Tyddewi Herd of Welsh Black cattle had considerable success throughout the UK, winning Breed Champion at the Royal and Royal Welsh shows and Herd of the Year on many occasions. The Beynon family has been farming in the St Davids area since at least 1326, as a mention in the Llyfr Du Tyddewi shows, and he delves a little into his family's long history in agriculture, but concentrates mainly on reminiscing about his own experiences in farming. From his 1930s childhood to marrying and setting up his own farm and award-winning herd, to retirement and beyond, he provides a wealth of detail about agricultural practices in west Wales in the mid to late twentieth century, writing always with a warmth and a sense of humor that is a delight to read. Includes foreword by Countryfile's Adam Henson and 32pp of photographs.