Richard Mildon 1, Family history and childhood - Manawatu Conversations

Description: Broadcast on 31 August 2021, part 1 of 4. Great-grandfather and family (6 children) came to a farm at Kairanga in 1894. 3rd owner, but still much work needed. Had been a teacher in the UK. Good farming land, but many stumps and swampy. Cold, damp homestead. Grandfather became a good farmer. Homestead improved and owned by family until sold a year ago. Changed character of Kairanga. Growing up on a sheep farm. Pet lambs. Growing vegetables. Holidays. A Dutch migrant. Saw Queen twice in 1953. May holidays away. Few ideas of future working life, knew little about farming. Read a lot. Meccano, toy trains. Teaching engineering.