Ken Hutchings, Devon, United Kingdom

One day while I was up visiting with Ben Gray, he asked me if I had been down to see Ken. Not knowing anyone in the area other than Ben, I was able to immediately say no. Ben gave me directions to the farm of a man name Ken Hutchings. His farm was about 15 mintues down a few lanes and across a few streams from Ben's place, so just after lunch I set off to call in on Ken. When I arrived, his wife said I had just missed him, he had gone off to play skittles with his mates. I left a bit disappointed, but knew I would be back in a month, so began making plans to met this Ken.

Back at base camp, in Wigmore, I called a few times but was again told Ken was out. Finally, one day Ken answered the phone and said he would be delighted to have me down. That is the beauty of coming from Hawai`i to study cider, I am a bit of an oddity in most parts! I made the drive down to Devon and was very glad I did. Ken is exactly the type of cider maker I had been wanting to talk to all along. He makes his own cider, for he and his family, and the odd friend or so who pops in. No selling, just for home use! This is the data I had come for, and now I finally was able to talk with someone.

I walked in to the cider house, and was greeted by Ken, his Uncle Roy, and a friend who dropped in for a mug of cider named Jeremy. All were the most gracious of hosts and spoke freely with me about all they knew about cider. They had been making and drinking cider all their lives. Uncle Roy himself had 70 years of cider making knowledge, and maybe just a little more years of cider drinking under his belt. I was told they make about 400 gallons a year, well under the legal UK limit of 1500 gallons. They had a deal worked out with Ben Gray these days, to juice their apples for them. Years ago, the cider press in their cider house was working just fine and they did it all themselves. Now, it is just much easier to bring juice in and ferment it in the cider house for drinking througout the year.

I was a bit sad I had to leave these guys, just sitting around talking in the cider house was just my style.