Dewi Thomas a retired farmer of Capel Dewi Carmarthenshire, speaks of the heavy snow in the winter of 1947 and the challenges of getting milk to market. He also speaks of his neighbour Bill Hinds, chairman of the Milk Marketing Board. Dewi spoke with Anthony Rees of the Carmarthenshire Milk stand project on 12 March 2024. The interview is in Welsh. This recording is the second of two available on this website.

Summary of the conversation

In the ‘Big snow’ of the winter of 1947, Dewi remembers coming home from school in Carmarthen and it was so windy and snowing that it was hard to breath. 

The snow was over 6 foot deep in the hedges and they couldn’t leave the farm via the farm lane for 3 weeks. No tractors with front end loaders and the main road had been blocked by snow so milk churn collections couldn’t happen. 

When they were eventually told that the lorry would be coming, the road ahead of it was cleared by 12 men with shovels. 

He remembers helping his father to carry 2 or 3, ten gallon churns across snow filled fields (300 yards) to meet the lorry. They hadn’t been able to get milk to the creamery for 3 weeks and so hadn’t been paid. 

Bill Hinds, who was prominent player in the Mill Marketing Board, was a close neighbour of Dewis and his influence was useful in getting the lorries through.  His father Ben Hinds was Vice chairman in 1947.  Dewi speculates that he made a lot of money through investments and Dewi saw his will confirming his multi millionaire status. 

The snow of 1963 did not cause road blockage to the farm, but was very cold at -15C for 3 weeks, they were able to use the box on the tractor to clear the snow and carry churns.   The snow cover protected the grass from the extreme cold and Dewi remembers it was too cold to use the outside toilet, which was all that was available.