I was born in 1954 and here is a picture of me a few months old holding a young piglet.I suppose pigs and I bonded early.

The Warburton herd of Large White pigs was based here at Broad Oak Farm and run by my father.His pride and joy was a Field Marshall boar bred from the Flacks 'Thingo' herd near Bury St. Edmund's as I recall. The boar sired many show pigs and carcass class winners.

Pigs left the farm after 1966 and Foot & Mouth, not that we had the terrible disease,as farming was changing greatly at this time. Mixed farms were moving towards the more specialised units.

So though the pigs left the picture remained and as my own children passed beyond the hen and duck stage 'pigs' were mentioned. It was difficult for both Dad and Granddad to be persuaded. But which ones? Graeme and Mandy liked British Saddleback colours so the decision was made.

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust was joined so was the British Saddleback Breeders club. Shows were visited followed by numerous phone calls to source two in pig gilts. Two gilts were purchased with immediate disaster.Parvo Virus took one litter completely while the second had had the wonderful figures of 2-1

Serious consultations took place with 'elder statesman' Jim Appleton and others who restored the faith, with further purchases following in the Chapel herd. Our old Warburton prefix would not be re-issued to us.

From British Saddlebacks an interest grew with Essex by simple chance that the purchases I made of stock were from the old Essex lines. I had conversation's with ( or rather I listened to ) Vaughan Byrne and later John Stronge. Ealier attempts to purchase stock from the Glascote herd failed, but with a change of outlook from John Croshaw and help from John Stronge purchases have been successful.