Hand Picking

The van in the background was one that came round the hop gardens playing record requests

This photo has been submitted by Bill Regelous and shows the Francis and Regelous family at Park Farm Udiam in 1951. They continued to go hop picking there for many years.
From left to right: Jean Regelous, Mrs Francis, Roy Francis, Shirley Regelous and Bill Regelous.

Bill comments "The location the hop fields was near Park Farm...I visited Park Farm and the old brick built building that housed the two shops is stll there,in fact written in pencil on the whitewashed walls you can still make out the odd note like the Hut109 owes 1/3 etc ... Amazing ,considering how long its been there. When we visit Bodiam which is quite often the steam train ( The Bumper) whistle still brings back memories along with the smell of wood smoke."

"I would have preferred to go fishing in the Rother nearby."