Oldfields Cider is produced by us, The Thompson family, on our 250-acre farm Oldfields, nestled here in the heart of the Teme Valley, Worcestershire. We took this place on in 1960 when it was a hilly, scrub filled smallholding that one supportive neighbour at the time said would ‘never make a farm’. But Jim, the father of current Oldfields custodian Geoff, was undeterred and moved his family in, along with a creaking ancient cider press and apple scratter he’d not long bought from an old boy in Cowsden. And while we were unable to do anything about the hills, over the next few decades those scrubby Broom filled banks were transformed into a thriving verdant farm and put to good use. Something else that was put to good use was that fateful apple press. Every year since 1960 we have made cider. For many years, this was done with that very same press extracting juice that was then transferred a bucket full at a time into old whiskey barrels, for our own consumption and that of our neighbours and friends. Those same neighbours always made time to come along and pitch in on pressing day to secure their summer cider ration.