Memories of 1947 big freeze

Your article on the big freeze of 1947 by the Reverend William Tavernor on February 15 brought back many memories for me.

I was 14 years old and on the Sunday before the snow arrived I went to work on a farm at Spring Hill about three miles beyond Clun, by the following Wednesday the snow had fallen and I had to go out with the farmer to feed the livestock. He carried a sack of feed for the animals and after a while he said it was my turn.

I made several attempts but the sack was far too heavy and the snow too deep, the farmer said if I could not carry the feed I was no use to him and I might as well go home. So I just went back to the farmhouse collected my few belongings and started my journey to Clun.

In those days the hawthorne hedges were about 8ft-10ft tall and my only guide to where the road was in places was the top of the hedges sticking up through the snow.

I sank into the snow until I reached Barfield cross roads where to my relief the snow plough had cleared the road and I was able to walk the next two miles to Clun much easier. I hate to think what would have happened to me if I had failed to get through as the farmer didn't know if I had made it home and my mother didn't know I was on the way.

After that I got a job on the council for two weeks with a team of men, clearing snow up the Caldy bank. I remember our foreman was Dye Harding, from Clunton. I am 75 this year and as the Rev Tavernor said there will not be many about for the 70th anniversary.

WV Wardman, Craven Arms