David Exwood
@DavidatWestons
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Sussex farmer, father & husband. I love to grow people, plants & animals. NFU Deputy President
Horsham West Sussex
Joined April 2013
Sky lanterns released last night in West Sussex. Unbelievable in the current conditions. These need banning NOW. There is no such thing as a safe sky lantern.
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Post from a dairy farmer I know who sold his cows today. It pretty much sums up how many farmers feel at the moment. We need to #BackBritishFarming before it’s too late.
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6500 farmers turned out for the @UFUHQ rally last night and many more outside wanting to get in. Great response from Ulster farmers showing the strength of feeling across the country. #FarmerProtests
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On my farm I am facing ever tightening rules from the Environment Agency at great cost whilst the massive sewage works at the bottom of my farm can pump as much raw sewage into the same river because it will cost too much sort out. How can this be right?
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One of the worst aspects of the change to APR announced today is that it will penalise those farmers who die suddenly making a family tragedy a crisis.
(1/4) In response to the Budget, NFU President Tom Bradshaw (@ProagriLtd) updates on what it means for British farmers.
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Yesterday I signed a new tenancy on 1000acres until 2034. Despite all the uncertainty we will carry on farming here in Sussex and it’s a great sign of the commitment of our landlords and ourselves to the future of British agriculture. I hope other landlords can do the same.
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I appear to have benefited from somebody’s roofing job. Complete with empty Stella cans. Classy
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What we do this job for. It looks so thick you could walk on it. 13t/ha and 14% moisture Gravity wheat doing the business. #YourHarvest
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At a time when most of our local supermarkets have run out of eggs we have plenty because we have long standing relationships with farmers we know. Local supply chains work!
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Why has the BBC decided to allow Brian May a platform to express his views in an unchallenged way with such poor journalistic standards? It does nothing to inform or educate viewers about the serious topic of bTB.
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So this is really frustrating! On Friday I dug this roadside ditch out. By Sunday morning someone has dumped their household rubbish in it…
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This beautiful Victorian leaf and sediment trap is just one of the many landscape water features that we manage around the farm. We need many more of these
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I’ve watched the program @AdeAdepitan now let’s have the conversation. Come to Westons Farm and see how my Sussex cows nourish my soils, make my farm more sustainable and provide organic nutrients for some of the foods you do eat. @Channel4.
The Big British Beef Battle!! Come on I dare ya, give it a watch 🤷🏾 And not just the first 5 minutes 😉 @Channel4 @zandlandfilms #BEEF
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This massively undervalues the work of British farmers and distorts the true cost of food. Empty shelves in February - No wonder.
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Last week I and 30 local farmers signed up to a new cluster group with @kneppcastle in the Adur Valley. Despite some reservations we all believe this is the way to deliver productive ag alongside #spacefornature in the future and are looking forward to working together.
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Rather than just eating soya-filled meat substitutes for #Veganuary why not find out more about what you’re eating and how it’s produced? Why not buy truly sustainable British food and discover just how much #farmingcares about what you eat.
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Put your name to our petition at now and share this post to spread the word.
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After 32 year farming at Westons today I start working for @NFUtweets members across the country. I’m really looking forward to working with Minette,Tom and the NFU team with so much to do. At a time of war in Europe it feels like a momentous time to begin.
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4th year I’ve had this field and finally some wheat I’m proud of. We’ve dug the ditches, fixed the land drains, mole ploughed, subsoiled, limed and put muck on (every autumn). It takes time and money to grow a good crop #Backbritishfarming
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The Government have massively destabilised farming and must act now to reverse the damaging impact of their tax changes. Continuing wide support from across the House is telling.
Last night in the House of Commons, MPs from across the House continued to raise concerns about the #FamilyFarmTax.
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@ChrisMasonBBC sums up the mood of farmers well. The government are going to hear about food and farming this week and they are going to have to react. It’s not just APR. It’s trade, it’s transition. We’ve had enough
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It was great to feed the cattle at Westons this weekend but I’m always being told I must cut cow numbers to help the climate. With beef on my farm I use less artificial fertiliser, have better soils and am more sustainable. The message is, livestock matter for sustainability
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I was cleaning a stretch of road ditch on the farm today. It is our responsibility to clear and maintain roadside ditches to protect roads, houses and infrastructure but it’s just one of the many jobs that farmers and land managers do as part of the service. #farmingcares
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Day Of Unity. #FamilyFarmTax .What a great day it’s been. Thank to everyone for all the support.
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I’m normally a glass half full person but we’ve decided to abandon plans to drill spring beans on this land. There’s just no point. The logistical, financial and mental pressure on all farmers this spring is extraordinary #foodsecurity
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The Defra budget crisis facing farmers is far more serious than this. The £2.5bn annual budget used to all go to farmers in direct payments. Now the money is being used for many other schemes so only a fraction is actually available to farmers.
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That’ll be the start of #harvest22 then! Let’s hope it ends as well it’s started. Sensation winter barley looks good.
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That’s 600 tons of layers manure piled and sheeted ready for the spring. Our own trials have shown that covered heaps retain twice the nutrients of uncovered so more than paying for the cost of sheeting plus all the environmental and climate benefits @NFUtweets #netzero
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My turn to feed this weekend and at least it’s dry today. 550 cattle fed on 2 sites in 2 hours. It’s been a decade of work but the productivity is finally paying off.
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Another load of cattle away early this morning and we are £200 a head down on last year, so that’s £6000 lower on this load alone. When the retail price of beef has barely dropped this summer this is unfair trading and unsustainable. @HertsFarmer
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Delighted to be elected Deputy President of @NFUtweets today alongside @ProagriLtd & @rachelhallos , it’s a great team. It’s a privilege to represent such a brilliant organisation and industry. A huge thank you to the many people who supported me. Now the work begins again!
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We did it! So proud to run the @LondonMarathon with @FreddieExwood for @FarmAfrica today. It was wet and tough but #TeamNFU raised over £30k with cheque donations which we’re so proud of. Thank to everyone who has donated and supported us. You made it all worthwhile 😊
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Not a tomato in sight at my local @sainsburys today. It’s amazing what we’ve become used to. #foodsecurity matters
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Re-covering an old well this afternoon which is on top of the highest piece of ground for at least a mile in every direction and yet the water level is only 5ft down. I’ve seen this many times but never understood why??
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After a heavy nights rainfall from #StormFreya the river meadows on the farm are in full flood. They are storing huge amounts of water, slowing the flow downstream and filtering out sediment for a great bite of zero input grass in a month. Surely this is a public good?
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Not the only way to go. We surround Knepp and have every wild species they have and always have had from before rewilding AND we produce lots of food from a diverse landscape for a fraction of the public money.
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Great to welcome new SoS @SteveBarclay to Westons today for the first farm visit in his new role. We talked about productivity, innovation, SFI and water. Farmers need to be profitable and have confidence to invest in the future.
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An 18% swing against @GeorgeMonbiot at the #iq2debate in central London is a great achievement by @Minette_Batters in the #rewilding debate. Farming delivers conservation AND food
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This week I have been farming at Westons Farm for 30 years. It has been a fantastic journey of success and failure and it’s hard to imagine a more challenging and rewarding career. Despite all the current uncertainty I cannot wait to see what the next 30 years brings
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So pleased our herd were tested clear for bTB yesterday. We work hard on our biosecurity but never take our 4 yearly testing for granted. I see the devastating impact of this disease as I go round the country. We have to continue to use every tool available.
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With world leading research institutions, low use of antibiotics, high use of precision ag, world yield records, high environmental and welfare standards AND a beautiful landscape I am definitely not working in a museum @NFUtweets
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In this plan farmland will be lost to food production twice. First for houses and then again for nature. Food security comes a poor third again.
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A serious challenge this morning thanks to @SouthernWater No water and no help for 500 cattle on two farms so it’s emergency measures with the tanker. It looks like we’ll be two days without water.
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Into the home stretch now. Great combining days despite the heat.
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Our #Farm24 day started at 7am with the delivery of our new combine. Only the 4th combine I’ve bought in 30 years so not a typical day but some very high yields mean we need some more output to get #harvest19 in safely and on time.
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They’re hard to see but you can hear some of the thousands of insects collecting pollen in the oilseed rape today. Farming feeds wildlife and the nation #sharpenhurst
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Day Of Unity #Family FarmTax .What a great day it’s been! People, politicians, posters, positivity
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That is the end of #harvest23 for Westons Farm. It has been one of the toughest and least rewarding but that’s farming. Many people have an opinion on agriculture but far fewer people appreciate the realities of producing food.
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I’m honoured to be elected to represent @NFUtweets and look forward to working hard for farmers across the country. With the invasion of Ukraine this morning, food and where it comes from is going to be high on the political agenda.
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We keep areas of bramble like this in the grazing meadows as they are warm dry and safe places for the many grass snakes on this farm. #farmingcares
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Very proud of all the events going on across the country tomorrow on our @NFUtweets day of unity and especially the 5 events in West Sussex. I’ll be in Horsham and Worthing for farmers, tractors, people, produce and politicians coming together to against the #FamilyFarmTax
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After a very busy weekend in our farm shop and selling Westons boxed lamb it’s really heartening that many peoples response to #meatathreattoourplanet is to find quality locally sourced food that is traceable and produced with care #Farmingcares
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Two years on from going #insectidefree across the whole farm, the Osr is looking good today and valuable part of the arable rotation
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Quote of the day from #OFS19. A man leaving the farm tour said “You’ve really changed my mind about farming. I can’t believe everything you do here, it’s so great” That made it all worthwhile.
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It was a huge relief that our Sussex herd went clear in our 4 year bTB test last week. Our 3 oldest cows are 13 years old and part of the Westons family. It would have been a tragedy if they had joined the 44k already culled for bTB last year #farmingcares
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We’ve just replaced the F/R clutch pack in our 6610. 25k hours in 22 years, a head gasket is the only other major item it’s needed. Still drives well. My first @JohnDeere. Hard to beat.
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There’s been mismanagement of our river systems for decades. Will we learn anything this time or just wait for it to happen again? @EnvAgency @HertsFarmer @wheat_daddy
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@AdeAdepitan @Channel4 @zandlandfilms I’ve watched the program @AdeAdepitan now let’s have the conversation. Come to Westons and see how my Sussex cows nourish my soil, make my farm more sustainable and provide nutrients for some of the foods you do eat.
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All our cows at Westons eat a diet of only grazed grass, home grown silage and barley and British rape meal. We know exactly what we feeding, where it’s come from and is fully traceable because we care about cows and consumers. #farmingcares
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Aggressive tatics from vegan protestors at Henfield as I took some pigs in this morning. This was on private property well inside the gate and went on for some minutes. Sussex Police should respond to breaches of the peace and intimidation when called. @NFUSouthEast
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Dairying is a key part of our business even though we don’t milk cows. That’s why I’m supporting #FebruDairy2020
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We now have clear direction on Brexit and I don’t think anyone who voted for it did so to see British farming disadvantaged. We must hold the new Govt to delivering trade deals that will allow UK farmers to flourish in the new era and deliver on climate change and food supply.
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We’re supporting #farm24 and the amazing team effort that goes into producing the nations food. From everyone who works on farms throughout the year in rain or sun to all the people who support us, vets, mechanics, agronomists, buyers and suppliers. Thank you everyone
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Since the really wet autumn at Westons we’ve really focused on improving the resilience of our soils. Here’s our soil story on #WorldSoilDay and why #farmingcares
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First technique of political lobbying-lock your MP in a combine cab so he can't escape and has to listen! @NFUSussex_IoW @ProagriLtd @chandlerfarming
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We’ve decided to take our No Deal planning a bit more seriously. This should sort most things.
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Tomorrow is #WorldSoilDay and we have such a good story to tell about all the ways Britain’s farmers look after their soils. #farmingcares.
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In these exceptionally dry conditions everyone needs to be very aware of the high fire risk. Make a plan in case of fire, be ready with a cultivator to make firebreaks, be prepared. #Harvest2018
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Having spent two days on the road this week on Uplands SFI Roadshows, I’m really clear that @DefraGovUK need to get on and deliver the Uplands offer asap. The farming communities of these areas are some of the most affected by losing BPS and have waited long enough.
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The scapegoating of beef like this is the height of hypocrisy. My cows are not the problem here.
Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Air, is so concerned about the climate that he cancelled serving beef during flights. His company Virgin Galactic is about to fly paying customers into space ($250k for 3.5 hrs).
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Saturday morning site inspection. I can’t wait to put the first calves in this in 9 weeks time! #BackBritishFarming
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The farmers understand it all too well. This is the worst kind of environmental imperialism. That will become marginalised in their own community despite the fact they and their forebears have created the wonderful landscape that it is @NFUCymru
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Today I am driving my 6610 raking a great field of grass next to some smart looking barley in a stunning landscape with a great team of guys who work on the farm while birds wheel above us. I have the best job in the world
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Winter oat harvest going like a dream yesterday. They can be a tough crop to grow but pure joy to cut this year.
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After 3 weeks of lobbying, rallying, politics and member meetings covering 1000’s of miles by car and train it’s great to have a weekend at home on the farm. I always feel fortunate to have the farm I do and to be able to share it with my family. #familyfarm
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@GeorgeMonbiot is guilty of conservation imperialism. He sits in London telling the upland farmers how their land should be managed. The uplands have been farmed for millennia and are truly sustainable. They will still be farmed long after rewilding has been forgotten #iq2debate.
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A large sixteenth century farmhouse stood here until the 60’s when it was demolished as part of government schemes to amalgamate farms. It always reminds me that policies come and invariably go. It’s farming that has to carry on regardless
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When we’re working long hours, particularly at harvest, it’s long been a tradition at Westons that we feed everyone an evening meal. A few minutes out of the day to eat together makes for a happy team. And Sophie gets to eat with her Dad and brother! #farm24
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Where I really disagree with #Veganuary is that the red meat produced on this farm which is so vilified comes from cows and sheep that live the most sustainable and natural life possible. I am sure anyone who comes onto this farm and looks at the animals would agree
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It’s time for full transparency of the Defra budget. We need to see where the money is going and why. It’s the only way to restore confidence in the system.
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Two years on and Ukraine needs our support more than ever. My thoughts go out to the farmers trying to carry on producing food whilst the country fights for its survival. #UkraineWar
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Every morning when I leave the house I can hear a skylark singing from the field here above the house. However challenging the day looks nothing lifts the soul like the sound of the lark.
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The farm is alive with the sound of nightingales, cuckoos, skylarks, yellowhammers and swallows to name just a few. Food and nature together
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After 3 days of 24hr drilling I can walk past the seed shed and not look away now. Team work, good soil drainage and 2 drills have got us to 85% done. Its still a serious crisis for all though that will have lasting impact. This is what volatility means and why BPS matters
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I find it incredible and completely unacceptable that the decades old general licence is withdrawn at 36 hours notice and before a new licence is put in place. This is chaotic and incompetent government which serves no one. @BBCr4today
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Very privileged to receive a nomination for @NFUtweets Vice President from West Sussex. I would be proud to serve farmers across England and Wales at this challenging time. I can confirm I will be standing for the top team and look forward to the elections in February.
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Very peaceful in the calf shed this morning and the robins are chatting away too.
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It’s days like these and crops like this that make farming such a great job! #backbritishfarming
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I’m delighted to announce I will be running the #LondonMarathon2023 with my son Freddie in aid of @FarmAfrica. It’s hard to to stop some of the bad things happening in the world but we can make sure the good work carries on too. #teamfarmafrica
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With BPS payments reduced to around 50% this year there is 100’s of £millions available this year alone for funding other ELMs schemes. With delays in rolling out SFI 23 it is less clear than ever where this money has gone or how farmers can access it.
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While the eyes of the country will be on Westminster this week the devastation and hardship caused to our poultry farmers by avian influenza carries on. On this and several other fronts there is a desperate need to get on with the business of government.
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I’m sorry to report that another farmer died last week when their tractor overturned. A personal tragedy not just a statistic.
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I know only too well what the shock of a cancer diagnosis in someone so young feels like and what a tough journey they are on. I wish the whole family well for the weeks and months of treatment ahead and all our thoughts will be with anyone suffering from this terrible disease.
A message from Catherine, The Princess of Wales
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A day on the 8640 means listening to its original am/fm radio cassette. Still giving great sound after 40 years!
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