Tom Parker (1896-1982)
The Guv’nor, as he was known locally was a larger-than-life character whose farming skills were matched by his entrepreneurship. Technically not a Hambledon resident he actually owned numerous farms in the Parish or close to it such as Wallops Wood, West End Farm and Hoe Cross Farm.
But certainly his contribution to Hambledon’s village life was colourful and prominent as he made his regular appearances at Village pageants such as the historic cricket matches held in costume on Broadhalfpenny Down. And of course as a member of the Hambledon Hunt.
In 1921, Tom Parker started farming with 14 cows on rented land. His style of personally delivering milk from his horse and cart and the quality of his produce established his reputation until his fleet of handsome horse-drawn milk floats became a common sight in Hampshire.
Not only did his business grow, he steadily acquired more land until he eventually farmed 4,000 acres. The size of his business and his personality led to the soubriquet of ‘The Guv’nor’, and he became a farming legend in Hampshire.
In recognition of his 80th birthday the Hampshire Telegraph ran a story in August 1976 which gave a concise but useful appraisal of The Guv’nor’s life and achievements as farmer and businessman. Despite his commercial success, Tom Parker remained a farmer at heart and a traditional mixed farmer at that – rather bemoaning the modern-day focus on specialism.
For many of us 1976 doesn’t feel so long ago but actually the world of farming and dairy produce known to Tom Parker is barely recognisable today. And the world of 1976 had changed considerably from when Tom started his farming empire as tenant of the 260 acre Charity Farm in Fareham. Parker recalled in 1976: “We started retailing milk 45 years ago supplying 32 pals with one pint each. Now at the peak of the season it is 1000 cows with a production target of one million gallons a year.”
Harking back to the days of horse-drawn ploughing – as it was when he started farming – Tom remained committed to traditions of agriculture in shows and equestrian events and photographs from an album shed light not only on the personal interests of Tom Parker but on country living in the first half of the 20C.
In 1948 influenced by his friend and neighbour Sir Dymoke White, Tom Parker was initiated into the addictive pursuit of competition coaching with Parker’s team of horses hitched to a coach supplied by a Colonel Main. In due course, Sir Dymoke’s own coach, The Rocket, would be teamed up with Parker’s horses.
The debut of this partnership was at Tom’s daughter, Judy’s wedding and in the years that followed Judy Rusbridger (Judith Rose Parker D. Denmead 25 May 2012) was herself a major player in the outings of The Rocket’s legendary long distance road trips called Rocket Runs. After Sir Dymoke’s death in 1968, Tom Parker bought The Rocket from the estate and put it to considerable use until his own demise in 1982.
Tom Parker was competing around the country with some success, winning The Royal at Nottingham in 1955. We don’t have a record of how much the folk of Hambledon knew about these heady events but they were very aware of Tom’s regular appearances around the Village and at special occasions with various combinations of carriage and teams – always immaculately turned out and lending a unique traditional flavour to scenes in the village’s historic streets.
