The Farmers Mart Feb/Mar 2015 - Issue 38 | Page 56

Selby Auction Mart

Reputations in the Ring
Chris Berry talks with Richard Haig at Selby’s
lively Livestock Auction Mart.
»»Respect is something

with much of its esteem

that is hard-earned, no matter

coming from its leadership, a

what sphere you work in and

strong and focussed committee

as I came here was the respect

the farming world is certainly

and chairmen who have

everyone had for Robin. The

no exception. Certainly, a good

ensured that Selby has grown

team at the mart and all of our

reputation is paramount in the

as a business yet still retained

farmers and buyers were all

livestock markets, whether

its ‘friendly mart’ tag.

Robin fans and quite rightly

TRIBUTES TO ROBIN
“What came across as soon

Richard Haig is the current

so. He took the mart forward

managing director and cattle

in leaps and bounds and was

auctioneer, with his colleague

instrumental in establishing

Mart has carved out its own

Chris Clubley auctioning

Selby as this wonderful auction

niche over the past quarter of a

the pigs and sheep. Richard

centre. Peter Cornforth was

century since its move from the

came from United Auctions

the chairman when I first

centre of town to its outskirts.

in Stirling nine years ago and

arrived and it is now Ralph

It is now one of Yorkshire’s

has carried on the tremendous

Coward. I met with Robin

most respected mart centre,

work done by Chris, the rest

during the interview process

of the Selby team and perhaps

and spent many a time with

most notably, Robin Screeton

him afterwards. He lived and

who sadly passed away two

breathed this place. When

years ago this summer.

the mart took me on it was

you are a buyer, seller or an
auctioneer.
Selby Livestock Farmers

Just a couple of weeks before

another big step for them as

this issue went to press, a

they had not had a full-time

framed photograph of Robin

auctioneer/manager because

took pride of place on the wall

Robin and Chris both have

in the mart café with Robin’s

or have had their own land

partner, Val Ellerington, was

agency businesses too,” he

present along with Chris and

explained.

we were there to photograph

“We have some fantastic

the handover from Val to

people who commit so much

Chris.

time and energy to the mart’s

During my visit, Richard

success - from Chris, who

looked back to when he first

56 Feb/Mar 2015 www.farmers-mart.co.uk

is still a director and was

took over his role from Robin.

managing director before me;