Arthur and Connie
Whilst Arthur played a pivotal role in Fordhall’s success, May’s contribution was equally important. It was her vision that underpinned yoghourt at Fordhall and a unique enterprise on the other side of Market Drayton which, but for a tragic accident, might have been the start of a healthy living movement. Fordhall Way, as it became known, was a vegetarian and wholefood guest house, established at Pell Wall Court in 1972. Guests were invited to embrace vegetarian eating and exercise, thereby living ‘the Fordhall way’ for a few days in a spacious country house setting, before returning home revitalised.
By 1975, Fordhall operations were at their peak, but Arthur and May were starting to look at other options. They were happy to promote Fordhall Way, which was undoubtedly popular with guests, but still needed investment. However, the dairy business was showing signs of strain, mainly due to competition from rival firms, followed by an outbreak of brucellosis which temporarily stopped dairy production.
Aside from the threat of competition, Arthur and May had other interests which were taking up much of their time. Arthur was planning a nature trail at Fordhall which would capitalise on the natural advantages of the farm. This was to some extent dependent on Arthur’s long-term drainage project which had kept him busy for years. Furthermore, he had been working for some time to develop a revolutionary seed distribution machine which he christened the ‘pulvo-seeder’.Unfortunately, both their plans were brought to a shuddering halt when May was fatally injured in a road accident not far from Fordhall Way in the summer of 1975.
After May’s death, Arthur worked hard to ensure the farm remained busy and full of people. As well as farm trails, a farm shop, restaurant meals, school visits and tours, he advertised working holidays.
Connie Trojanski had seen a yoga retreat at ‘Fordhall Way’ advertised in a free health newspaper in the Bradford Holland and Barrett store, and after sampling the Fordhall yoghourts in another local health food shop, decided that this holiday suited her healthy living ethos. Unfortunately, in the wake of May’s tragic death, Connie was advised that the holiday would have to take place at Fordhall Farm with good food and day trips, but without the yoga.
Connie thoroughly enjoyed her time at the farm and wholeheartedly believed in Arthur’s ethos. She returned a few years later for a working holiday and never left. Connie married Arthur in 1981, and soon after followed Arthur’s second generation of children, Charlotte and Ben. The organic way of living clearly kept him sprightly, being 67 years of age when Charlotte was born and 69 when Ben was born. Within a decade, a large German ‘yogurt’ manufacturer had moved onto land adjacent to Fordhall, bringing a new challenge for the Hollins’. Although the family had farmed the land for generations, they had remained tenant farmers, and with the new neighbours, the landlord saw an opportunity to sell Fordhall Farm for industrial development. Arthur was once again faced with the power of the corporate yoghourt world.
