BARGING THROUGH FRANCE PT 14 – LOIRE

In this episode of the video series about barging through France, host Richard Goodwin visits the rolling hills of the Monts Lyonnais where just to the South of Lyon, lives the remarkable Mr. Roland Dams. Mr Dams, a veterinarian, is known as the man who saved the ‘coq Francais’. “He has devoted his life to saving the ancient strains of French of poultry,” Richard tell us. “Holding a sick looking hen with a pale comb in his arms , he explains that there is nothing wrong with the bird and in fact it is the best sort of chicken that you can get. Roland explained that these two bachelor geese had taken charge of these orphaned goslings. He then showed me the various eggs from the different species and I was amazed by the different sizes of the eggs of the ancient strains. Genetically it can’t be explained he tells me. He shows me a Le Mans chicken that he has been developing for 20 years. A huge bird and he says with a great future. I believe he tells me over a glass of the very best Bordeaux red wine that there is movement towards quality food. The work that Roland Dams does will one day stand us all in good stead.” Richard moves on and describes his experiences: Andre Sablier told me why St. Etienne was famous for cycles and guns. St. Etienne was a mining down which produced very fine coal which was used for smelting to produce very high quality steel. I started in 1964 and I think that I am considered one of the best cycle makers in the world. I lifted the bike he had …