Lived: Porlock
Recording made: 1996
Length of recording: 1 hr 3 mins
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TOM ROOK
Born:
Porlock,
Somerset,1928
Lived: Porlock
Recording made: 1996
Length of recording:
1 hr 3 mins
To read a summary of the contents of the oral history recording click CD1.
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Tom Rook's parents ran the Ship Inn in Porlock, until 1942 when his mother let it out. He joined James Phillips and Sons a few years later. At that time they were auctioneers, estate agents and corn merchants, with mills at Minehead and Bridgetown. He wanted to become an auctioneer and studied for his professional exams by correspondence course. He became a partner in the early 50s, staying with them as the company evolved. Semi-retired now, he still does a certain amount of work for the firm.
He has been connected with the hunt for as long as he can remember and is a familiar figure out on hunting days, where he says he probably meets far more people than he would at an auction. He farms in a small way himself and was secretary of the Exmoor Horn Sheepbreeders Society for over 40 years.