FARMER Guy Liddington was given his first animal – a donkey – to celebrate his fifth birthday. This week, 76 years on, the great foot and mouth cull ended a lifetime of animal husbandry for Mr Liddington leaving him with – a donkey.
Mr Liddington's few remaining steers at Plummers Farm, near Lydney, were taken out on Monday as "close contact" animals after an outbreak of foot and mouth on adjoining Nass Farm.
Now, aged 81, he will end a lifetime's association with the land with just his grand-daughter's four donkeys to care for.
"He started with a donkey and ended with a donkey. It's very sad really because he has decided not to restock when this is all over," his wife, Bunty, told The Review.
"Guy has always cared for his animals. They were part of his life. He has had stock since leaving school at the age of 14 and he is very sad it has ended this way," said Mrs Liddington.
"He has always been a son of the soil and was very old-fashioned with his views on the use of his land. For instance he always spread muck and never used fertilizer – he was always worried it would get into the water," she said.
Mrs Liddington said her husband had received a donkey for his fifth birthday present on Christmas Day 76 years ago.
"His father sent him down to the barn to feed a calf. Instead he found a baby donkey which he brought to the house and fed on bread and jam. He has had a donkey ever since," said Mrs Liddington.