This episode will stay with you – from a century of stories told with grace by Jim Freer, to George Hosford’s blistering takedown of government farming policy. It’s full of insight, history … and a fair bit of fury.
Also: it’s the final episode with co-host Terry Bennett. You’ll be missed, Terry.
Jim Freer at 100: Halifax Bombers and the Art of Staying Nice
🎂 “Be nice to each other. That’s good advice too.”
Born in 1925, Jim Freer reflects on a century of life – from engineering and war service to marriage, museum volunteering and village fetes.
🎖️ “We took off 34 times – and thankfully landed 34 times.”
From post-war production to RAF mail flights in India, Jim’s story is a calm, thoughtful tour through a remarkable life.
Farming and Fury: George Hosford on the Collapse of Trust
💥 “I can’t process the scale of this incompetence – it takes my breath away.”
Dorset farmer George Hosford delivers a scathing and sharply informed assessment of Defra’s abrupt shutdown of SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive) payments:
🌱 “This isn’t just about money. It’s about trust, soil health, food supply and the future of farming.”
George breaks down what sustainable and regenerative farming really mean, why government schemes mattered, and how political short-termism risks undoing decades of progress.
These interviews are based on stories from April’s BV, available here. Dorset people, Dorset landscapes, and the big stories behind our rural headlines – all in one beautiful, free magazine.
🎧 The BV Podcast – twice a month, always worth your ears. Named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette).
