DOWN ON THE FARM

In May 1960, there was a new arrival to the Ball family at Ty’n y Clwt Farm. My future wife, Diana, was delivered on Mayday in the farmhouse in the Ogwen valley, Snowdonia. Diana was the second child, daughter to Bernard and Myra Ball, and she had an elder sister, Angela, born the year before; the year of the release of the first Mini models.

That year they took a decision to reorganise their activities to be more focused on the farm itself, to concentrate on milking a small herd of cows, raising pigs and chickens and growing potatoes. Their flock of sheep was gathered and sold. The resulting inflow of funds and the arrival of Diana then turned their thoughts to the acquisition of a brand new motor car; something that had a bit of the stylishness of the emerging, post-austerity decade, but which could also earn its keep on the farm. Originally attracted by the Austin Mini saloon they were held back by the rate of purchase tax: 50% on new private cars. In April 1960, however, the first adverts for the van variants: the Austin Seven Van and Morris 7cwt versions, started to emerge and, being a commercial vehicle, were purchase tax exempt, making them very affordable at £360/0s/0d.

Bernard and Myra Ball visited the local dealership, the wonderfully