Cefn Gwlad: Andrew Roberts Cefn Gwlad


Cefn Gwlad: Andrew Roberts

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-Fifty-five, sixty.

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-At sixty, sixty bid.

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-And one, sixty one, two.

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-Sixty-three, sixty-four.

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-Seventy-eight.

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-I'm very far from home!

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-I'm in North Yorkshire...

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-..visiting a man from Anglesey...

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-..who worked as an auctioneer

-with Morgan Evans...

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-..who has now settled in this area.

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-He's a unit manager

-and he conducts weekly auctions.

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-He's a busy man!

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-Ninety-three, four,

-ninety-four, five.

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-And ninety-five, ninety-five bid.

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-May 2015

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-The ancient market town of Thirsk

-lies 20 miles north of York...

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-..in a valley close to the

-North York Moors to the east...

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-..and the Yorkshire Dales

-National Park to the west.

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-It was the home of James Herriot,

-the vet and author who found fame...

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-..thanks to the television series

-All Creatures Great And Small.

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-Markets has been held on the large

-town square since mediaeval times...

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-..but today, there is a market

-on the town's outskirts...

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-..close to the main motorways, on

-a modern 20-acre multi-purpose site.

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-This is where Andrew Roberts,

-the auctioneer from Anglesey, works.

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-Nine ninety, one thousand!

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-In at one thousand!

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-It's a thrilling job!

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-When did you first decide

-to become an auctioneer?

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-I used to go with my father

-on Saturday mornings...

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-..to an abattoir managed by my

-father in Llangefni, Borthwicks.

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-Back then, local farmers would bring

-their own stock to be slaughtered.

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-On Saturdays and Tuesdays...

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-..market reports would be sent

-to the Daily Post.

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-You could read how many cattle were

-in Llangefni, Borth and Llanrwst.

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-It occurred to me that I fancied

-being an auctioneer.

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-Three of us had an interview

-while we were still at school.

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-I won.

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-I've been an auctioneer ever since.

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-Selling is great

-when trade is on the increase.

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-Recently, there have been times when

-store cattle have been in demand.

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-At such times, I'm sure you feel

-like a great preacher!

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-But it's a different story

-when demand is low.

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-That's when a good auctioneer

-stands out...

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-..when trade is rock bottom

-and you have keep things going.

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-It will happen again.

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-The way things are at the moment,

-selling is very easy work.

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-I wanted to be an auctioneer,

-but I started singing.

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-They're very different jobs.

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-I could be making lots of money!

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-I doubt it!

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-I doubt it!

-

-Can you sing?

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-Yes, after four or five pints!

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-Yes, after four or five pints!

-

-You're dual purpose!

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-Dual purpose!

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-Yes, karaoke!

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-This is Ring One.

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-This is where we sell fat cattle,

-cows, and cattle over 30 months...

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-..once a week, on Thursdays.

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-We only sell fat cattle here.

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-Andrew, you were an Anglesey lad -

-how and when did you come here?

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-I came here in October 2010.

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-I'd taken one of my sons

-to a university open day in York.

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-Since we were there,

-I asked if we could visit Thirsk.

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-There's a link between Thirsk and

-Gaerwen, where I worked previously.

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-I met the chairman and the other

-auctioneer who works here.

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-They said, "They're looking for

-a new auctioneer here in Thirsk.

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-"Would you fancy it?"

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-"Yes," I said.

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-My wife nudged me

-and said we should discuss it!

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-That's how I came here,

-and I've never looked back.

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-I was very sad to leave the island

-and the farmers...

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-..and everyone I'd worked with...

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-..and my parents,

-who still live in Anglesey.

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-It became clear I'd have to delete

-some numbers from my mobile phone...

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-..to make room for new ones.

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-I couldn't believe how many phone

-numbers I had listed in my phone.

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-My mobile is on, 24 hours a day.

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-It's something Mike taught me

-when I worked in Gaerwen.

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-Don't ever switch your phone off,

-don't ever wear a watch...

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-..the job finishes in its own time,

-it's not nine till five.

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-Thirsk mart is more

-than just a livestock market.

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-It's a multi-purpose mart.

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-Andrew can bring down the hammer

-on a bull and a box of screws...

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-..all in the same day.

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-We have the facilities

-to do all kinds of things.

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-This year, for the third consecutive

-year, we have a truck gathering.

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-In the first year,

-we had about 40 lorries.

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-Last year, there were 80.

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-At the moment, there are about 400

-booked in for next month.

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-The doors will open

-for all kinds of events.

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-We've even had a wake held here.

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-A wedding has been booked.

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-The foyer is used about four times

-a year for a guitar fair...

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-..with 400 to 500 guitars for sale.

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-People can play the guitars in

-the rings, to check the acoustics.

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-We have antique fairs -

-all kinds of things.

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-Having said that...

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-..we mustn't forget

-that it's lads from a family farm...

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-..who originally created this place.

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-Yes, indeed.

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-Mr Harry Woodhead

-established the place.

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-Harry was one of three brothers.

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-Two of them established

-and managed Woodhead Brothers.

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-Harry decided to build this mart.

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-How many days a week

-are markets held here?

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-That's apart from fur and feather

-markets and so forth.

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-We sell store cattle and sheep

-and lambs every other Tuesday.

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-When there aren't any store cattle,

-we sell furniture...

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-..and antiques, knick-knacks,

-all sorts of things.

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-We usually have about 1,200 lots

-and two auctioneers.

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-These are held on Tuesday evenings,

-starting at 4.00pm.

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-Primestock sales

-take place on Thursdays.

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-We start selling pigs at 9.00am.

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-We're usually finished

-by about 3.00pm.

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-Markets are important

-in agricultural circles.

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-Yes, people gather

-and enjoy a pint or a meal...

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-..and discuss the week's events.

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-We have our regulars -

-farmers who come every week.

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-They shop at the green store

-next door.

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-We have an office accountant -

-lots of people use his services.

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-His services are useful

-during sales, too.

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-Let's move on -

-you lead and I'll follow.

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-Otherwise I could end up in Skipton!

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-Who sits here - deacons?!

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-They're seats for the buyers.

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-Don't forget, most buyers are here

-from 8.00am on a Thursday morning.

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-They're here until 3.00pm or 4.00pm,

-so they need seats.

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-The site has offices

-available to rent.

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-The cafe is a private enterprise.

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-What do you have in here?

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-Andrew manages everything.

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-Selling furniture

-is a major part of the business.

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-Every other week, when we aren't

-selling stores, we sell furniture.

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-We sell antiques and knick-knacks.

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-This is the furniture saleroom.

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-It can accommodate up to 100 lots.

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-Some goods were removed yesterday,

-more will be removed today.

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-In general, we have room

-for 200 to 250 lots of furniture.

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-We're located next door

-to a place called SuperSkills.

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-It's a training company for

-plasterers, builders and joiners.

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-Yes, Andrew is a busy man.

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-After selling all day,

-he takes off his coat...

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-..and retreats to his new home

-situated in magnificent countryside.

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-Thirsk is surrounded

-by fertile agricultural land.

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-In May, the fields

-are full of rapeseed crops...

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-..with their distinctive

-yellow flowers.

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-The valley is dotted

-with ancient villages...

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-..brimming with character.

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-Andrew and his wife, Dwynwen...

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-..have established their new home

-in one of these villages, Topcliffe.

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-Dwynwen, Andrew has settled down

-well in this area.

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-How about you?

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-How about you?

-

-Yes, he has.

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-It took longer for me to settle -

-six months to a year.

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-He came because of the job.

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-I found a job

-with another estate agent...

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-..but I didn't stay there long -

-I didn't enjoy it.

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-Then I found a job with

-my present company, James Winn.

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-I'm the office manager.

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-Is it similar

-to your previous job in Anglesey?

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-It's better, if anything.

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-It's a higher position

-and I'm in charge of more people.

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-This area is a lot more prosperous.

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-First time buyers, for example...

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-..are looking at houses

-priced at about 250,000.

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-In Anglesey, you start at the

-bottom, spending 70,000 to 80,000.

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-This is a large house

-with a lot of character.

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-Did it need a lot of work?

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-Yes, a lot of work.

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-We still haven't finished,

-particularly upstairs.

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-You wouldn't believe

-how much Artex there is!

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-But it's my fault

-that we bought this house.

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-I was working with James Winn

-in Thirsk at the time...

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-..rather than in Northallerton.

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-I was asked to take some people

-to view this house.

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-I went in

-and had a quick look through it...

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-..and then I phoned Andrew

-immediately.

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-I told him he had to come

-and see the house.

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-I didn't give the other people

-much time to view the house!

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-I almost pushed them out!

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-The next minute, he arrived

-and that was it - we had to buy it.

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-What language do you speak at home?

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-What language do you speak at home?

-

-Welsh.

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-People at work can't understand

-why we speak Welsh.

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-We just do!

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-That's the way we are.

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-Sometimes, we switch

-between Welsh and English.

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-If we're in the local pub - we go

-to the Angel on Friday evenings...

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-..we switch to speaking English

-when our friends arrive.

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-When Andrew peels potatoes,

-does he sing in Welsh or English?

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-It's a long time

-since he's done that!

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-.

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-Subtitles

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-The old market town of Thirsk

-in North Yorkshire...

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-..was the birthplace of vet

-and author James Herriot.

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-The surrounding farms and hills

-provided the setting...

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-..for the television series

-All Creatures Great And Small.

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-As you travel east

-to the North York Moors...

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-..you're struck immediately

-by the delightful character...

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-..of the villages and the landscape.

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-This village is called Kepwick.

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-It's one of dozens

-of small villages in the area.

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-There are lots of small cottages.

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-People who lived here many years ago

-used to work on large estates...

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-..felling trees and whatever else

-they did on those estates.

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-I love the colour of the stone

-used for building.

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-Local stone.

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-Yes, it's a lovely sight.

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-New houses are still built

-in a fairly traditional style...

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-..using bricks of a similar colour.

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-It's important,

-in a place like this.

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-Yes, to preserve

-the beauty of the area.

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-The area is noted for its

-large estates and grand mansions...

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-..built by the wealth of the

-north-east's past industrialists...

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-..such as shipbuilders, and textile,

-leather and wool pioneers...

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-..and families of brewers.

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-The scenery is amazing.

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-What's that place over there?

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-We're looking back towards Thirsk...

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-..and in the distance,

-the Yorkshire Dales.

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-Where you see that mountain,

-you'll find Hawes and Hexham.

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-I've been looking at the houses -

-there's a very stately house nearby.

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-That's Cowesby Hall.

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-That's the name of the house.

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-This land belongs to Cowesby Hall -

-it has about 300 acres...

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-..including the woodland behind us.

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-It's easy to see

-why you fell in love with this area.

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-Yes.

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-On the outskirts of Kepwick, there's

-a farm owned by the Woodhead family.

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-Stay Farm is one of the farms

-owned by Ian Woodhead...

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-..chairman of Thirsk mart

-and Andrew's boss.

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-His sheep winter on the low hills...

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-..and graze on the high moors

-in summer.

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-This morning...

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-..we're visiting a farm owned

-by Ian Woodhead, the mart chairman.

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-Behind us you can see a few hundred

-Scottish ewe lambs.

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-These will shortly be loaded

-and transported to Pembrokeshire.

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-Ian hires them out, in a way,

-to a chap called Richard Savoury.

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-He travels around

-all the agricultural shows...

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-..performing a sheep show

-from a large trailer.

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-They're fine lambs -

-they've had good grazing.

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-Local farms remain

-in the same families for decades.

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-Yes.

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-Farms come on the market

-very rarely.

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-They're passed on

-to the next generation.

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-People inherit their farms

-from their families.

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-This factor also helps to retain

-the area's character.

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-The people who live here.

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-We're high above sea level now -

-we're up in the gods.

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-Where exactly are we now?

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-We're on a mountain.

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-This mountain is called Stay Moor.

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-You can't get much higher

-above sea level.

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-Behind us are about 20

-Belted Galloway cattle.

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-They're a wonder to behold,

-and looking well.

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-They live out here throughout

-the year, in all kinds of weather...

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-..and the weather can be rough.

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-It's a diminishing breed, but

-there's a revived interest in it.

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-Yes, there's a revival.

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-Ian is establishing

-pedigree cattle...

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-..he has five of them up here.

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-It's an old breed and a tough one.

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-They'll survive anything.

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-Rain or shine,

-wind and rain, and snow.

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-Of course, it's the Galloway.

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-Did you say five of these

-are pure-bred?

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-Yes.

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-There are two bulls.

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-Yes, two bulls, Bruce and George.

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-They should work happily

-in such a magnificent landscape.

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-If they don't work,

-at least they have lovely views.

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-Which is best, do you think?!

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-The main livestock mart in Thirsk

-is held on Thursday.

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-Farmers come to buy and sell from

-all parts of Yorkshire and beyond.

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-They bring pigs, sheep and cattle.

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-From dawn until mid-morning,

-it's a hive of activity.

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-AN AUCTIONEER SPEAKS RAPIDLY

-THROUGH A LOUDSPEAKER

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-I start work at 6.00am.

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-People start bringing pigs

-at 6.15am to 6.30am.

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-Pigs are the first to arrive.

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-Do you get many pigs at the mart?

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-No, we're lucky to have 100.

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-Prices aren't good at the moment,

-so there aren't many pigs.

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-There are lots of sheep.

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-We have about 1,500 hogs,

-but the trade is declining now.

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-We're past the busiest time

-for hogs.

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-We often see auctioneers walking

-along planks above the pens.

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-They stand on planks

-as they do the selling.

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-But you bring all animals

-into the ring.

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-Yes, that's the custom in this mart.

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-Selling lambs from a plank...

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-..is much easier

-than bringing them into a ring.

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-But this is the custom

-at most marts in the area.

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-What are the main differences

-between Wales and Thirsk?

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-It's busier here.

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-Where primestock is concerned...

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-..sheep, lambs and fat cattle

-are sold every Thursday.

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-We start work at 6.00am

-every Thursday.

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-Everyone is here by 6.00am.

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-Once the lambs and hogs

-have been sold...

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-..I check that the paperwork

-is correct...

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-..I work out the averages...

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-..and check movement licences

-and sheep EID.

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-This is done on a computer.

0:21:140:21:16

-Everything must be above board.

0:21:170:21:19

-One of the women is paying out -

-sellers are paid on the day.

0:21:190:21:23

-You pay on the day?

0:21:240:21:25

-Yes, it's important.

0:21:250:21:27

-We have so much stock, and sellers

-go home with a cheque in their hand.

0:21:280:21:33

-AN AUCTIONEER SPEAKS

-THROUGH A LOUDSPEAKER

0:21:360:21:39

-There are some very sweet cattle

-entering the ring now.

0:21:400:21:44

-Yes - and these

-have come from Wales.

0:21:440:21:47

-From Mid Wales - from Tregaron,

-and from Knighton mart.

0:21:470:21:51

-Good gracious!

0:21:510:21:53

-Who's been buying them -

-Coedmore Hall?

0:21:540:21:57

-Yes, and they bring them up here.

0:21:570:22:00

-That's a nice heifer.

0:22:000:22:01

-This heifer has come

-from Aberystwyth...

0:22:010:22:04

-..Williams Ty Newydd, Llangwyryfon.

0:22:050:22:07

-Ty Newydd in Llangwyryfon?!

0:22:080:22:10

-He's one of my neighbours!

0:22:100:22:12

-I've come all this way

-to see a heifer from home!

0:22:150:22:18

-Yes, there are strong links

-between Thirsk mart and Wales.

0:22:220:22:27

-Andrew has little time

-to feel homesick for Anglesey...

0:22:270:22:31

-..or for the land of his fathers.

0:22:310:22:34

-Another day is almost over.

0:22:340:22:36

-Has it been a successful day?

0:22:370:22:39

-Yes, another successful mart.

0:22:390:22:42

-We had plenty of stock.

0:22:420:22:43

-Most prices were good,

-though some were poor.

0:22:440:22:47

-Looking to the future,

-what would you like to see?

0:22:480:22:52

-I'd like to see

-more livestock sales.

0:22:520:22:55

-Instead of selling stores

-every other week...

0:22:550:22:59

-..I'd move furniture sales

-to another day...

0:22:590:23:02

-..so we can sell stores, sheep

-and lambs regularly every week.

0:23:020:23:07

-And this is where your future lies?

0:23:070:23:08

-And this is where your future lies?

-

-Yes, this is my future.

0:23:080:23:10

-S4C subtitles by Trosol Cyf.

0:23:370:23:39

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0:23:390:23:40

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