Almost 100 years ago a chance view of the auction details for the Glewstone estate led to one family developing very close connections to the village.

George Jackson, the founder of the Man of Ross Fruit Farm at Glewstone, was the son of a Cheltenham market gardener, and a great salesman. When he felt his father was not being paid enough by the Birmingham traders for his produce he set up his own business marketing the fruit and vegetables.

He was soon looking for land to purchase to expand his fruit production.

In 1918, when George Jackson was in Gloucester, he saw the details about the auction which was to be held at the Royal Hotel in Ross the following day.

He attended and bought the estate which included Glewstone Court, Holly Mount Farm, several cottages and about 250 acres of land. His main interest though was in the land and the orchards.

And even today, 100 years later it is easy to see why a knowledgeable fruit grower would be attracted to this beautiful, fertile spot.

The beginning of October is the perfect time to visit the farm, the trees are laden with ripe fruit and the scene is almost like stepping back in time. although today the pickers keep both feet on the ground, or use a small step to reach the top branches, rather than 100 years ago when ladders were used to reach the fruit at the top.

Nick Wall, the orchard manager, and Brian Evans, who both started working at the estate as young boys, said they used to call the youngsters monkeys as they claimed up and down 20 rung ladders all day.

The current Managing Director Andrew Jackson, great grandson of the founder, told the Ross Gazette that at that time the main fruit varieties grown at Glewstone were Worcesters, Bramleys and Coxes, very traditional varieties.

The company grew and was very successful after the war, but by the 1940s and 1950s tastes had changed, so more land was purchased and coxes and russet trees were planted.

As time passed, it became clear that with about 16 to 18 shareholders it was difficult to sustain dividends. Andrew, and his wife, Heather decided to buy out the reminding shareholders and bring the farm back into the family.

They sold off the outlying acres and turned the unused workers cottages into holiday lets in 1995.

The packaging operation opened in 1947, which now packs fruit for several local producers. But then the fruit farmers of Britain faced a challenge from France when the Golden Delicious was introduced, however the English growers responded by planting Gala, Jazz and Braeburn, which are sweet and crisp and suit modern tastes.

As a business, an intensive fruit production company, like the Man of Ross Fruit Farm, is always at the mercy of Mother Nature, this year has had its own difficulties with the long dry spell but major investment in irrigation systems means that they are enjoying a bumper crop.

William told the Ross Gazette that 95% of their Gala apples are supermarket grade, which is want they are always aiming for, they are sweet and have a perfect skin.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.