The old expression about ‘tractors being in the blood’ was never more apt than when applied to Ferguson and Massey Ferguson enthusiast Ray McAvoy-Kifford, who was born on a dairy farm near Lewes, in East Sussex, where his dad was the cowman.
Itford Farm was owned by EJ Brickell & Sons, and Ray has very fond memories of his time spent growing up and then working there and is still in touch with the surviving Brickell family members today.
Cherished memories
“The Brickells were traditional farmers and absolutely wonderful to work for,” Ray told me. “It was an absolute privilege to both know them and work on their farm, and I have nothing but good memories from that part of my life.
“Massey Ferguson was the chosen make of tractor on the farm and, in the early days, I remember a Lambourne-cabbed MF 135 doing most of the work. But many other models – including 165, 188 and 1250 – all came and went as the years passed. I can still recall the excitement I felt when the Culverwells transporter would arrive from nearby Lewes, delivering another shiny new tractor. It was a fantastic place to grow up, and I spent many happy hours as a youngster simply standing at our garden gate and watching everything that drove up and down the lane. Tractors were certainly in my blood from an early age.
“I got my first part-time job on the farm when I was 13, and that’s when I started doing some tractor driving. There was, of course, a main
