We could see the disease creeping nearer as each farm succumbed. It started at the head of the valley where rumour fed on rumour concerning some sheep bought from a concerning part of the country that had connections with foot and mouth and were moved to gain from this areas close proximity to Birmingham and the need there for cheap mutton at that time of year.
So all stock from one farm after another, down the valley, at eight day intervals, was slaughtered and burned. We could smell the smoke, and a trip to Bromyard necessitated running the gauntlet of these pyres. And then my neighbour’s cattle became ill and we waited with baited breath! 
 On the 5^th day, a Sunday, a ministry  vet rang at just after 1 o’clock to ask my comments on the possible cull of my cattle as a contiguous cull. I said I would take his advise but was fully aware that if I my cattle got this awful disease, then my next door neighbour would also be culled, and he had, and still has, a wonderful herd of pedigree Herefords. Greatly prized.
I had a small young herd of beef shorthorn cows that were in the middle of calving and we now had eleven beautiful calves, having spent the whole morning calving one heifer. She was so pleased and proud of her new calf, a little bull, and couldn’t leave it alone
The vet rang to say that the slaughterers would come in the morning! What could I say – I felt it was the right thing to do in the circumstances, and i probably had no real choice, but was so sorry for all these young animals. I think all livestock farmers at that time felt very isolated and fearful. The government in London seemed to have no idea what to do except kill every thing, and little practical advise. Only interested in covering there own backs and saving money by delaying culls of actual outbreaks, allowing further spread.

Monday dawned and along came the flotilla of men. I wasn’t allowed to stay and watch the rifleman at work, but apparently, the vet pushes all the cattle into one pen and there is a lot of bellowing as each mother tries to find her calf. Then he starts, and when the first cow is shot all the others turn round to face the man in surprise, so his job is easy and there is sudden total silence except for the sound of each cow or calf as she falls, and the crack of the rifle. He did a good job!  Each one had a neat bullet hole through the forehead. Even the newest arrival and his mother, and I know it sounds melodramatic, but as my neighbour, whose cattle were also culled, said,  ‘I lost many friends today.’
I saw the people off the farm after they had  issued  me with lots of enforcement notices, and the slaughter man left me a spent cartridge case, which I still sits in front of me on my desk. I suppose rather a grim reminder. Maybe it should go !

 I felt  numb, and it has to be said rather guilty that I had not somehow prevented this catastrophe from afflicting my herd. When you buy and own living animals all farmers have an unwritten code and agreement with the animals that says, we will protect, feed and nurture you to the best of our ability. And the cattle agree to provide you with your livelihood. I felt that I had failed them.
I went in the house to sit quietly.  I think I was in shock.

 I turned on the radio and Barber’s  ’adagio for strings’ was playing.  Very beautiful music, but so sad. It rounded off a terrible day, and due to the Governments ineptitude things got no better for many a month.