Local Countryman Jack Hargreaves

Jack Hargreaves OBE was a television presenter and writer who lived for several years in the village of Belchalwell. Despite being London born, he is remembered for his nostalgic and gentle programmes about the countryside. These included ‘Gone Fishing’, ‘Out of Town’ and ‘Old Country’. They appeared long before and were forerunners of ‘Countryfile’.

Many of his programmes were filmed in his Belchalwell home’s potting shed and this provided the inspiration for comedian Charlie Higson’s character, Bob Fleming who regularly appeared in television’s ‘The Fast Show’. Jack also conceived and presented ‘How?’ for 15 years the children’s how does it work programme with co-presenters Fred Dineage and Bunty James.

Behind his gentle and unassuming broadcasting manner Jack Hargreaves was a shrewd individual and successful businessman. His reputation as a communicator earned him a role setting up broadcasting services for the allied military services before and after D Day. While after the war, he held a senior role in the National Farmers’ Union and was a director of local Independent Television Company, Southern Television.

Jack was awarded the OBE for his work on the Nugent Report which reviewed the use of the nation’s land for defence purposes. He was frequently filmed smoking his pipe and he grew his own tobacco at Belchalwell. In 1969, he was named Pipeman of the Year.

Jack Hargreaves, the London born adopted countryman, passed away in Dorchester in 1994. It is said his ashes were scattered on Bulbarrow Hill.

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