Farmer’s wife to celebrate 90th birthday

Pictured above are Vera and her husbamd John James

A woman born in Stafford who now lives in Seighford is set to celebrate her 90th birthday this week.

Vera Marian Simmons was born on February 3, 1931, to William and Celica Simmons at Mayo Farm Haughton Brazenhill Lane in Stafford, Staffordshire.

She attended Haughton School where she first met John James, who she later married, when he and his family moved to Brazenhill Farm just up the road.

This week, Vera will celebrate her 90th birthday - although the pandemic has meant she has put her plans on hold.

Vera, one of four children, said: “Growing up in the war days was difficult, but you made the best of what you had.

“Nothing ever got thrown away, as there were no freezers and no electricity your leftovers were made into something, like chutney or jam, and everything got put into a stew to make it fill all the family, remember it was ratio books days.

“We had to walk or bike everywhere and at night we had to blackout the windows. Myself and my siblings all attended Sunday School and joined the choir at Haughton Church.”

Tragedy hit Vera’s happy family when she was just nine-years-old when her father William died leaving their mother to run a farm and four small children to look after.

There were no widow’s pension or benefits, so her eldest children Beryl and Vera looked after siblings Harold and Mary so their mum could work the farm and land.

Vera passed her 11 plus and then attended The High School in Stafford before becoming a land girl for Harry Mountford Beacon Side Stafford.

She then became a nurse at the Stafford hospital and always remembers the sad boys that she had to nurse back then.

In March 1951, she married John James to become a farmer’s wife and moved into Brazenhill Farm, to start a new life.

Together they have five children - Robert, Phillip, Mary, Howard and Alison. In 1967 the family moved to Meaford Farm Stone, which was no easy feat.

Vera said: “I can remember that we milked at Haughton on the Friday night, drove to Meaford to sleep there then the next morning John and Robert returned to Haughton to milk cows and then load them on lorries to arrive at Meaford where Phillip and I were waiting for them, it was a long day.”

In 2006 it was time to hang the ‘wellies’ up and retire to a bungalow in Great Bridgeford, and let their eldest child Robert and his wife Jenny run the farm.

Vera said she has enjoyed her life, having five children, 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Due to Covid-19 she is bitterly disappointed that she cannot hold a big party to celebrate the occasion as she had always looked forward to.

Vera said: “I wanted a party at The Hollybush pub in Seighford and am disappointed not to have a get together with friends and family that I haven’t seen for so long.”

Vera’s daughter Mary Leigh added: “The party would have been a toast after the last 12 months she’s had. She is quite upset as we did such a good afternoon lunch party for dad’s 90th, and she always said that’s what she wanted too.

“All we can do is wave to her through the window. I’ve bought her a cake so she can cut that up and pass it out.

“My brother is doing her an afternoon lunch and I’ll make her an evening meal so she doesn’t cook on her birthday.

“Added to her missing out on her 90th is that her 70 wedding anniversary - an absolute milestone - is in March so it’s a double whammy. But at the end of the day, she’s got to stay safe.”