18 February 1997

Characters: Clarrie, Eddie, Graham Ryder, Joe, Nicholas Pine, Susan, William

• It’s the day of the tribunal visit and the Grange Farm residents are nervous, wondering what to call the judge and whether to feed them. James Miller is late as Graham Rider arrives first and hostility ensues. The judge arrives next and rebuts Rider’s offer of guidance and suggests that the board can find its own way around the farm.
• William overhears the tribunal complaining of thistles and, later, the judge comments to Rider that while the farm is on prime land but allows him no further room to comment.
• Eddie is desperate for news and visits the estate office as Rider returns. He leaves learning nothing but, apparently, the issue of hardship is going to be sticky. As evidence the tribunal will want to see much more of Simon’s personal accounts which Rider is unsure he’ll agree to. He seems to think that the other two counts, bad husbandry and management, will be enough to carry the day.

Summarised by: Chris Harrison