Ben the “orra” horse

“Like other readers, I enjoyed The Plooman’s Lament,” says Tayport reader Reg Mulheron, “and it made me think back to 1945 when I was living in Dundee and worked on Barnhill Farm as a 16-year-old.

“The farm had two pairs of horses and a tractor. There was also a ‘spare’ horse – an ‘orra’ horse – called Ben.

“I had to report to D & W Croll when I went for the job of looking after the horses. I had said that I had experience when, in fact, I had none at all. I was taken to the farm by a Mr Arnot and we headed to the stables. He asked me to harness up one of the horses and, as soon as I began, knew that I had no experience whatsoever. I was putting the harness on the wrong way. However, Mr Arnot showed me what to do and said that, since I appeared interested, he would let me stay for a week’s trial.

“I ended up working on the farm for the whole of the summer and loved it. The horses were very well cared for and groomed every day. We had to take it in turns to go on a Sunday to give the animals a groom that day.

“I was offered the position for longer than the summer and would have loved to stay on the farm, but my father wouldn’t allow it.

“He said that I had to go back to school and finish studies. I was really disappointed about that at the time.

“The pay was £2 10s a week, but it was surprising how you could make that last, even taking account of paying for my travel to the farm. I have very happy memories of that time in my life.”