People
Ralph Deacon
Ralph Deacon, or "Rolfie", as many will know him, came to Landulph in 1939 when his father took over the tenancy at Grove Farm. Formerly a "gentleman's residence", the property was fairly run down, and boasted a tennis court in the field at the front of the house. Ralph's grandfather who worked his own property at St Stephens helped the family by paying the first years rent. The business was principally dairy, with a few sows, and a little market gardening.
One of his earliest memories is of the fields being ploughed with Shire horses until purchase of the first tractor in 1940.
Sister Betty was born at Pentillie, which was being used as a nursing home during the war years, and he can recall nights when large numbers of family members would come and stay at Grove. Sleeping on hay bales while Saltash was bombed, they would return to their properties in the morning to see what was left. The house also had an air raid shelter under the stairs.
On father's passing at quite a young age in 1950, Mother Emmie took the very brave decision to take on the farm and was helped by Grandfather Blatchford until Ralph was able to take over in 1959 at only 23 years of age. Having attended Landulph School until he was 15, the young Deacon was no stranger to hard work, since it was quite normal to come back from school, and help milk the herd. In his "spare" time Ralph was in the scout troop run by Lou Barrett, but had to give this up when father passed away to devote his time to the farm.
Married to Pat in 1959, the couple will celebrate their Golden Wedding this year, and the family is still farming at Grove, the cows having been replaced with a beef herd of some 80 animals. Finding life tough with just the cattle, some years ago Ralph took the decision to expand, and the family now also operates a successful plant hire business.
Ralph says he will retire "one day", but you sense that it'll be when he gets round to it, and I believe that half the problem is that along with other farmers of his generation, he still very much enjoys what he does.
© David Hall, Landulph Newsletter, June/July 2009, All rights reserved
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