The Farmers Mart Oct-Nov 2017 - Issue 53 | Page 31

Marrick Abbey Farm pay, but it was difficult letting them go. Granddad had milked a few and dad had expanded the operation. He liked dairy cows and Andrew had been involved with them too. Originally we’d had Northern Dairy Shorthorns but we had moved over to Holsteins many years ago and had 90 at the time we made the decision to finish. When I was very young we’d had a small suckler herd of Aberdeen Angus cows but dad had let those go to concentrate more fully on the dairy herd.’ Hauling and storing fleeces for North of England Wools started in 1999 and the brothers now haul from 750 farms with 230 tonnes of fleeces brought to Marrick Abbey Farm. ‘Some farmers bring in their own and most days someone arrives with another delivery. We pick up off farms, we bale them up and take everything into the British Wool Marketing Board in Bradford.’ Reeth is just two miles away and Reeth Show has played an important part in the lives of the Bainbridge family. Syd tells of how the show was saved by an important move about five years ago. ‘Dad was president of Reeth Show until he passed away. Ernest is on the sheep committee and my wife, Janet was secretary for We are proud to be associated with Messrs Bainbridge, Marrick Abbey Farm C M Y CM MY CY Agricultural & Rural Supplies CMY Hawes Country Store - 01969 667334 carrs-billington.com K four years. She’s still on the Syd and Janet have three show committee. I’ve been daughters – Victoria, Katy involved since the early 1980s and Alice who is a trainee and have held the roles of veterinary nurse in the village chairman and vice chairman. of, wait for it, Bainbridge! I’m now a vice president, Ernest’s son, Martin works I steward and help with for the Busby family on their whatever needs doing. farm in Marrick and is also ‘Moving the show from a the Bainbridge family sheep Wednesday to Bank Holiday shearer as well as clipping for Monday has given the show other farms in the area. a new lease of life. If we Syd’s other passion is hadn’t moved it the show may motorbikes. He’s a member have died because we were of Richmond Motor Club and losing money hand over fist. competed scoring British The first year it was held on championship points in his the Monday our gate money earlier days. He now officiates, exceeded all expectations and but still has his 2008 Beta now even if the weather is 4-stroke. It appears that bad we still do well. It has put competing whether in sheep us in a really good financial rings or on a bike is 10:43:33 all part of 66826 - DarlingtonFarmersAuctionMart - 8TH.pdf 1 17/10/2017 position.’ the Bainbridge way. Bank Top Mart, Clifton Road, Darlington, Co Durham DL1 5DU Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] AUCTIONEER, LIVESTOCK AGENTS AND VALUERS Wishing Syd Bainbridge at Marrick Abbey Farm continued success ------------ Weekly Sale of Prime Cattle and Sheep Every Thursday Weekly Sales of Store Cattle and Sheep Every Monday ------------ Agricultural, Tax and Compensation Claim Valuations Undertaken Andrew J Armstrong: (Operations Director/Senior Auctioneer) Scott Ferrie (Auctioneer) : Daniel Lynn (Trainee Auctioneer) : Tracey Gilhespy (Field Officer) : Stephen Dodsworth (Field Officer) : 07766914075 07557 260653 07887 653442 07867974688 07778737431 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.farmers-mart.co.uk Oct/Nov 2017 31