Not Bad for a Peasant Farmer - Biggleswade author's autobiography covers a lifetime of adventure

David Simkins, 85, has published Not Bad For a Peasant Farmer – taking readers on a journey through his life growing up in rural Bedfordshire, his wartime memories, and later feats of daring, including mountaineering and flights in Concorde.

Originally a lockdown project to record memoirs for his family, David was inspired to turn his account into a book.

He told the Chronicle: "My children said that I had had a fairly interesting life for someone who had started off on a small farm. It was initially intended as something for them, but over time I had over 300 pages on the computer!

"My advice for life? If you want to do something, just do it."

David was born in Harpenden on July 6, 1940 and later moved to Bedford.

The book details his "unusual wartime upbringing", giving readers a view of the Second World War through the eyes of a child.

"We were taken into an air raid shelter on two occasions," recalls David. "I also remember the American soldiers who were billeted at Bedford Park. They were marching down Kimbolton Road. I would stand outside and they would give me bits of chocolate and chewing gum.

"They were heading down to Midland Road Station in the months before D-Day."

After the war, David moved to Mount Pleasant Farm, Lower Stondon – and by ten was "helping out at harvest time", driving a tractor.

He was in the second intake at Stratton School in 1951 and – naturally – heavily involved in the Young Farmers movement.

However, despite enjoying a quiet country life, there was a world waiting to be explored – and David describes his later years as like a "second coming."

He said: "I didn't have a passport until I was 40, but have made up for it since, including trekking in the Himalayas and the Grand Canyon.

"I have had flights in most things that fly, including an airship and Concorde. I have run a number of marathons, including the first London Marathon.

"I learnt to play the violin in later life, and in my younger days, ran a mobile disco."

A colourful account from start to finish, David’s biggest thank you is to his family – especially his wife, Ruth – whom he credits as having the "same sense of humour".

"I met her on a blind date; I was told she was paying for her ticket, I thought 'that's alright then'", laughed David. "It was virtually love at first sight. I even remember the song that was playing when I first kissed her 'Put Your Head on My Shoulder', by Paul Anka."

The couple have three children – Abigail, Rebecca and Gavin, all of whom were born between 7 and 8am on a Tuesday morning.

David also enjoys the company of his seven grandchildren – "a great joy," and the family are well known in the community.

David's father, Bert Simkins, was chairman of the council's highways committee, while Ruth served on Mid Beds District Council for some years.

To leave his children with a greater inheritance, David diversified from farming aged 50, and turned the land into Mount Pleasant Golf Course.

The "next generation" are also behind Mount Pleasant View: Bistro and Events.

Living life to the full, David always has an adventure up his sleeve – unable to have an 80th birthday party during lockdown, he bought a race horse instead!

"My wife and I have a motto: it's not your extravagences you regret, it's your economies," he smiled.

Not Bad For a Peasant Farmer is available to order online from Amazon, Blackwell's and other retailers.