A GOLDEN age in Herefordshire farming circles is remembered this year by a Kington man who has hopes of producing a book about what proved to be a remarkable period.

During the latter part of the 20th century the county turned out a succession of world-class ploughmen, each of them honoured on their triumphant return home. This year marks the 60th anniversary of John A Gwilliam's win in World Ploughing Championships, the first farmworker to scoop the top honour.

In view of this year's anniversary, John's son Philip has plans for a book in celebration of Herefordshire's repeated wins in the global championships from the early 1950s up until 1980.

In 1958 Leslie Goodwin received a huge civic welcome in Hereford when he brought back the world championship trophy, the first Englishman to achieve the title. Philip's father took the title in Italy in 1960, and this year also marks the 40th anniversary of Vivian Samuel's world championship success.

Philip points out that other notable Herefordshire ploughmen represented Great Britain in the world championships. Competitors in the global event during this period - who first needed to win the British championships - included Tom Watkins in 1954, Leslie Goodwin, 1957, John A. Gwilliam, 1959, John Sandford, Bill Phillips, John Williams, Woody Cole and Philip Skyrme among others.

John A. Gwilliam's win at Roma proved the pinnacle of a ploughing career launched shortly after the Second World War. His son points out that he was not only the first farmworker – as opposed to a farmer - to win the world title, but also the last ploughman to use a trailed plough.

He was to return to Hereford in October 1960 to a parade through the streets of Hereford and a civic reception at the Town Hall. That evening another parade led him home to Tarrington where he then lived.

"The house was floodlit all night with a victor's arch over the gateway," says Philip.

He had risen to become farm manager at Foley Farms in Stoke Edith, but left in 1967 to become a field service representative for Ransomes, makers of ploughs and agricultural machinery, and moved with his family to Kington.

All these years later, John's children present the John Gwilliam Perpetual Memorial Trophy at Trumpet and District Agricultural Society's annual ploughing match as well as a £100 prize and a silver salver.

In memory of their parents, the family also present the John and Mary Gwilliam Memorial Trophy for the best ploughing on the day at West Midlands Vintage Ploughing Society's annual event.