Our Patrons
WILLIAM JOHN HUDSON MBE (Bill)
Originally a farm student, Bill joined the Navy in 1943 and after being commissioned Midshipman became the First Lieutenant of a tank landing craft. Attached to the American forces (Combined Operations) landed five tank destroyers 90 minutes after 'H' hour on Omaha Beach. He was invalided out after a disagreement with a mine on a build up trip to Normandy.
He spent a year feeling sorry for himself, but used
the time to convert a landing craft into a houseboat
which became his home. He joined a firm of film manufacturers,
where his father was a director. After some time he
became convinced that industry was not for him, particularly
as he was blown up during the manufacture of nitro
cellulose film. He decided that rural life might be
a lot safer and moved from the houseboat to a small
farm initially to become a moonlight farmer. During
his final days at the factory he joined the Safety
Committee and became a member of the Royal Society
of Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA).
Once he took up full time farming, ROSPA enlisted his help in setting up County Farm Safety Committees. Soon after, he purchased a run-down 8-bedroomed guest house seating 18 in the dining room and converted it to an hotel with 30 bedrooms and a restaurant seating 100. He ensured the building retained its Tudor charm, a period he has always been interested in (he lives in a Tudor house). He managed the Hotel plus the 300 acre farm, and two sons! In addition to this he organised safety conferences and gave many demonstrations of some of the dangers to be found in the countryside.
During this period he joined up with a group known
as the Red Socks, people of all occupations who give
their time to the organisation, whose profits go to
charities.
He has been a Councillor and a member of a Civic Society of which he is now honorary Life President. He takes a great interest in village life and is Fabric Secretary of his local Church. He is married to Patricia and they have two sons.
Some five years ago he was honoured by the Queen with an MBE.
PATRICIA ANN HUDSON (Pat)
Patricia
has always had a great interest in and a love of horses.
After leaving school she became a student at a riding
school, until in 1942 she joined the Army Remount Depot
at Melton Mowbray, attached to the Royal Veterinary
Corps. She looked after the horses from the Guards when
they were evacuated from London in addition to the mules
and pack horses. These mules and pack horses at the
end of the war were taken to the Elephant and Castle
to be sold. She had to ride one and lead one and then
return for more.
Technology was very limited then and she recalls practising for the Victory Parade and Musical Rides in a field to the music from a wind-up gramophone.
She went back to riding school until she married to Bill, when she became a full time wife, home-maker and mother. For eight years 'home' was the houseboat which she and her husband converted from wartime LCVP during the period when Bill was recovering from a serious accident.
When they moved from the houseboat to a small farm, Patricia took a very active part in its running, helping to keep the chickens and delivering eggs for her egg round (using one of the first Mini vans). Her husband was often away for periods of time, when she would take a more active part in running the farm, including driving the tractors. When they moved to a larger farmhouse with greater acreage, Patricia again undertook most of the interior design and decoration. Bringing up her two boys took a lot of the time that was not devoted to the farm.
Patricia has been married to Bill for 57 years, and they have two sons and four grandchildren. She joins her husband on his charity work with the Red Socks and continues with her own.
She
has always done a great deal of charity work, both
for the Church and for local societies, particularly
those which support her greatest interests, horses
and children. She has given her time and energies
to many such organisations, including the Children's
Society, Elizabeth Finn Trust, the NSPCC, British
Legion and riding for the Disabled, which is her favourite
as it helps so many children with severe disabilities.
