Eirian Williams is the daughter of a dairy farmer - Rhiw Farm, Cwmcych, Carmarthenshire. She grew up on the farm in the 1960s and her memories in this conversation come from that time. Her father also had a job at Cow & Gate, Newcastle Emlyn, as a milk churn lorry driver. Eirian spoke with Anthony Rees of the Carmarthenshire Milk stand project. The milk stand is a separate item in this collection - RHIW. 

Summary 

Eirian Williams (Nee Morris), lives just outside Carmarthen, overlooking the Towy.  Originally from the countryside outside Newcastle Emlyn, halfway between Penrherber and Cwmcych.  She lived on a small farm until she was 16 ( between 1959 and 1972, ) and then her father sold the farm. 

Rhiw Farm, on the hill, it was 18 acres.   

6 to 8 dairy cows, all were pets and had names. 

Milk would go to Cow and Gate Creamery in Newcastle Emlyn.  Churns would be placed on the milkstand by Eirian’s mother as her father ( Ieuan Morris)  has a job away from the farm.  He was employed at the Newcastle Emlyn creamery driving the lorries for many years until the late 1970s, when it closed when he was 54 years old. 

Some of Eirian’s uncles worked in the creamery in Johnstown.  

After churns stopped, her father drove tankers and then became an office manager and so knew all the lorry drivers very well.  His rounds stretched from Cardigan to Trelech. 

Whilst her father was a part time farmer, her mother was a full time farmer and bred dogs. 

The cows produced two or three churns per day.  Her mother cooled them in a large old water bath and then transported in a home made handcart down the slope from the cowshed to the milk stand. 

The milk stand was made of concrete and blocks.  Her grandfather built the stand and he used to make the blocks himself. 

The stand had a solid post as part of the milkstand and had a pottery dog sitting on it.  This was a landmark for Young Farners Treasure hunts.  As a joke, Eirian’s father would swap the dog for a concrete pig, halfway through the treasure hunt. 

The herd consisted of Friesian cows and a Jersey to increase the butterfat content.  The Jersey’s daughter was black and a cross breed cow -   jersey x Welsh black or Angus.  Her daughter was Suki, Eirian would milk her in the field for the cat, she was a gentle cow.  

Cows were milked in the cowshed, initially by hand and then later suction cups. 

Eirian has fond memories, but didn’t want to farm, but always wanted to work in the hospital.   She enjoyed the calves and rounding up the cattle.  They also had pigs and dogs .  Her mother bred Chow chow’s, Alsatians, Corgis and Dalmatians.