A PIONEERING farmer whose long career saw horsepower give way to hard-drives has published his memoirs – with the proceeds going to charity.

George Barker, 79, wrote Cart Horses to Computers to capture the essence of life as a Yorkshire farmer from the 1930s to 2005, when he retired and sold Thornbrough, the family farm just south of Northallerton.

He pioneered the use of technology with computerised milking parlours, and was one of the first in the country to adopt the now ubiquitous Holsteins as the milk producing breed of choice.

Over the years he won many awards for his efforts, and was invited to travel the world to expand his knowledge, which he shared with fellow farmers far and wide.

“I’m really proud of the fact I built up the farm and modernised,” said the father of two and grandfather of three.

“I’ve done a lot with my life. There were hard times and lows, but lots of good ones as well.”

The book has gone on sale in Barkers department store in Northallerton and the proceeds are going to the Friarage Hospital’s Breast Cancer Support Group – a cause long supported by Mr Barker's wife Mollie, who herself suffered from the disease in the mid-1990s.

A former nurse at the Northallerton hospital until the mid-1960s, she chaired the group for ten years and remains involved as a volunteer.

* Cart Horses to Computers is published by Richmond memoir specialist Caroline Brannigan. It is currently only on sale in Barkers of Northallerton at the special offer price of £12.95. Mail order copies are available by contacting (01609) 772303, online via barkers-northallerton.co.uk or by emailing enquiries@barkers-northallerton.co.uk.