Jack and his horses

Old Buckenham WI

Alison Downes came to the Old Buckenham WI’s September meeting and gave a most moving account of the life of her father Jack Juby. He was born at Reymerston in Norfolk in 1920 and from his boyhood until his death his passion for horses never waned. Jack’s reputation for his remarkable gift and ability to work with heavy horses spread far and wide. His particular favourites were his beloved Percherons.
In 2002 he received an MBE in the New Year’s Honours, ‘for services to heavy horses’. Near the end of his life in 2004 his daughter managed to tape a series of interviews of his memories of farming life when horses were still in common use on farms. She has since, with the help of Alan Downs published a book – My Life with Horses - The Story of Jack Juby MBE.
Alison brought photos of her father for all to look at, always with a horse and mostly with a collie dog at his heels.
Members were thanked for their help at both the Village Fete and the Produce Show, both of which were successful and enjoyable.
The next WI meeting is on Thursday 28 October in Old Buckenham Village Hall starting at 7.30pm. Jean Wade will be talking on ‘Sugarcraft for beginners’ and the competition will be for a four-line verse about either the tragedy or the triumph of making your first cake.