A daughter’s last promise to her father before his death is being honoured with the publication of his memoirs and the recent opening of a new museum in his honour.
John Beynon, ‘Penlan’ was a renowned Welsh Black cattle breeder from St Davids, highly respected across Welsh and UK agricultural circles.
John farmed near St Davids, where his family has been farming for centuries and built and ran the celebrated Tyddewi Herd of Welsh Black cattle.
One of the most successful herds in the UK, the Tyddewi Herd won Breed Champion at the Royal and Royal Welsh shows and Herd of the Year on many occasions.
John was president of the Welsh Black Cattle Society and a fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies, and one of only two people ever to win all three of Welsh agriculture's most prestigious awards: the Sir Bryner Jones Award, the Idris Davies Memorial Trophy and the Arthur Pritchard Award.
Just a day before he died on Christmas Eve 2021 his daughter, Dr Sarah Beyon, promised that she would create a museum of the family's rich farming history and publish his memoirs.
“Dad’s reply was: ‘that would be lovely, Sar’,” said Dr Beynon.
Hay Days by John Beynon 'Penlan’ is due to launch in June this year. Its cover was revealed by publishers Y Lolfa on St David’s Day.
Described as ‘an ordinary yet extraordinary historical memoir of farming and country life over the last 90 years’, John reminisces with humour and warmth about his long experience of farming and his award-winning herd, with a wealth of detail about old agricultural practices and life as a farmer in St Davids.
The book includes a foreword by well-known farmer and TV presenter, Countryfile’s Adam Henson.
"This is a fascinating account of farming life in Pembrokeshire, peppered with fantastical and yet true stories and adventures,” he writes.
“From St Davids to San Francisco, this tale is interspersed with dramatic helicopter rescues of cows, epic seafaring explorations, the discovery of treasure in a St Davids cottage and touching anecdotes of life on the land
“John’s fascination with detail is evident on every page and, in his intricate descriptions, he brings the past alive. A must-read for anyone interested in farming, history and the countryside."
John's daughter, Dr Sarah Beynon, is founder of The Bug Farm in St Davids, where a new Pembrokeshire Farming History Museum has been opened in his honour.
Part of a new Nature Recovery Centre, the museum features many of the pieces of family and farming memorabilia that John mentions in his book.
"My last promise to Dad was that I would create a museum of the family's rich farming history and publish his memoirs,” said Sarah.
“I am so very honoured to be able to share his life story as a thank you to a wonderful man and an even more wonderful father."
Hay Days will officially launch an event in the Farming History Museum. The book will be available from The Bug Farm, as well as in book shops across the UK. It is currently available by pre-order from Forbes, Waterstones, Amazon and The Bug Farm's online shop.
