FARMER Henry Osborn King always wrote letters to customers and friends in rhyme.

One reproduced below was written when he lost a contract the supply hay to the Great Western Railway.

The company had bought hay from him for its horses which delivered parcels in and around Oxford.

The poem was sent in by Michael Stockford, author of the popular book, Growing up in Wolvercote, 1931-51.

Mr Osborn King – or H O as he was known – owned or rented land from the Duke of Marlborough stretching from Wolvercote to Bladon.

The corn he grew in his fields was loaded on to barges at the canal wharf opposite the Plough pub at Wolvercote and transported to customers in the Midlands.

Mr Stockford writes: “It is hard to imagine today what a leading figure of the community he was.

“Next to Wolvercote Paper Mill, he was the largest employer in the village and a prominent figure at St Peter’s Church, serving as churchwarden from 1896-1908 and 1916-1922.

“He was also a notable musician (as were all his family) and wrote the tune, Wolvercote, to the hymn, Oh Jesus, I have promised.”

He was also responsible for improving the condition of housing in Wolvercote in the 1930s.

Thanks to him, many rundown stone houses were demolished and replaced with modern semi-detached homes.

First Turn and Osborn Close are two streets where Mr King left his mark on the village.

Mr Stockford tells me: “Today, his farmhouse remains, but the barns and outbuildings have long been demolished.

“Dove House Close now occupies his orchard, which, in my early days, was patrolled by George ‘Scrumpy’ Howard.

“He was all of 5ft tall and used to whack his leather gaiters with a riding crop whenever he saw us young boys.

“’I’m waiting for you, you young *******,’ he would say whenever he saw us.

“Only a brave man or a fool would enter the orchard.”

Mr Osborn King, who was born in 1864, married Amelia Mott in 1886 and they had 10 children, one of whom died in infancy.

All were given their grandmother’s surname, Osborn, as their middle name.

When Mr Osborn King died in 1946, his farm buildings and land were sold by auction for £10,000.

Mr Stockford writes: “Many people I spoke to in compiling my book were eager to talk about H O King. He made a huge impression on my generation.”

Any more memories of H O King to share with readers?

l All copies of Growing up in Wolvercote 1931-1951 have now been sold – Mr Stockford has donated the profits of £361 to St Peter‘s Church, in Wolvercote.

Dear Sir

Thank you for your letter of October 16th

  • Since half a century ago

I first commenced to sell

To your good company, good hay

You always used me well

I laid myself out to supply

To you my primest hay

To gain your goodwill, as I thought,

This was the proper way.

  • Alas, I am now cast aside

And left to burn or gnaw

My hay supplies, since looked upon

As but a ‘man of straw’

Although I begged to have a chance

To furnish you with hay

And though I thought I quoted low

You looked the other way.

  • Even your horses would object

To live on straw alone

While other dealers thrive on meat

I’m left to live on bone.

If I had grown rich by your trade

I should not now despair

I cannot live on bread alone

Or on a cupboard bare.

  • So if I am discarded from

Your favour, as to hay

I ask you to deal kindly with

Your ‘man of straw’ today

By adding the two bob a ton

Unto the contract price

Don’t pinch the breath quite out of me

As if screwed in a vice.

I remain, dear Sir

Your obedient servant

Henry Osborn King