Cefn Gwlad: Andrew Roberts Cefn Gwlad

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-Fifty-five, sixty.

-At sixty, sixty bid.

-And one, sixty one, two.

-Sixty-three, sixty-four.

-Seventy-eight.

-I'm very far from home!

-I'm in North Yorkshire...

-..visiting a man from Anglesey...

-..who worked as an auctioneer

-with Morgan Evans...

-..who has now settled in this area.

-He's a unit manager

-and he conducts weekly auctions.

-He's a busy man!

-Ninety-three, four,

-ninety-four, five.

-And ninety-five, ninety-five bid.

-May 2015

-The ancient market town of Thirsk

-lies 20 miles north of York...

-..in a valley close to the

-North York Moors to the east...

-..and the Yorkshire Dales

-National Park to the west.

-It was the home of James Herriot,

-the vet and author who found fame...

-..thanks to the television series

-All Creatures Great And Small.

-Markets has been held on the large

-town square since mediaeval times...

-..but today, there is a market

-on the town's outskirts...

-..close to the main motorways, on

-a modern 20-acre multi-purpose site.

-This is where Andrew Roberts,

-the auctioneer from Anglesey, works.

-Nine ninety, one thousand!

-In at one thousand!

-It's a thrilling job!

-When did you first decide

-to become an auctioneer?

-I used to go with my father

-on Saturday mornings...

-..to an abattoir managed by my

-father in Llangefni, Borthwicks.

-Back then, local farmers would bring

-their own stock to be slaughtered.

-On Saturdays and Tuesdays...

-..market reports would be sent

-to the Daily Post.

-You could read how many cattle were

-in Llangefni, Borth and Llanrwst.

-It occurred to me that I fancied

-being an auctioneer.

-Three of us had an interview

-while we were still at school.

-I won.

-I've been an auctioneer ever since.

-Selling is great

-when trade is on the increase.

-Recently, there have been times when

-store cattle have been in demand.

-At such times, I'm sure you feel

-like a great preacher!

-But it's a different story

-when demand is low.

-That's when a good auctioneer

-stands out...

-..when trade is rock bottom

-and you have keep things going.

-It will happen again.

-The way things are at the moment,

-selling is very easy work.

-I wanted to be an auctioneer,

-but I started singing.

-They're very different jobs.

-I could be making lots of money!

-I doubt it!

-I doubt it!

-

-Can you sing?

-Yes, after four or five pints!

-Yes, after four or five pints!

-

-You're dual purpose!

-Dual purpose!

-Yes, karaoke!

-This is Ring One.

-This is where we sell fat cattle,

-cows, and cattle over 30 months...

-..once a week, on Thursdays.

-We only sell fat cattle here.

-Andrew, you were an Anglesey lad -

-how and when did you come here?

-I came here in October 2010.

-I'd taken one of my sons

-to a university open day in York.

-Since we were there,

-I asked if we could visit Thirsk.

-There's a link between Thirsk and

-Gaerwen, where I worked previously.

-I met the chairman and the other

-auctioneer who works here.

-They said, "They're looking for

-a new auctioneer here in Thirsk.

-"Would you fancy it?"

-"Yes," I said.

-My wife nudged me

-and said we should discuss it!

-That's how I came here,

-and I've never looked back.

-I was very sad to leave the island

-and the farmers...

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

-..and my parents,

-who still live in Anglesey.

-It became clear I'd have to delete

-some numbers from my mobile phone...

-..to make room for new ones.

-I couldn't believe how many phone

-numbers I had listed in my phone.

-My mobile is on, 24 hours a day.

-It's something Mike taught me

-when I worked in Gaerwen.

-Don't ever switch your phone off,

-don't ever wear a watch...

-..the job finishes in its own time,

-it's not nine till five.

-Thirsk mart is more

-than just a livestock market.

-It's a multi-purpose mart.

-Andrew can bring down the hammer

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

-..all in the same day.

-We have the facilities

-to do all kinds of things.

-This year, for the third consecutive

-year, we have a truck gathering.

-In the first year,

-we had about 40 lorries.

-Last year, there were 80.

-At the moment, there are about 400

-booked in for next month.

-The doors will open

-for all kinds of events.

-We've even had a wake held here.

-A wedding has been booked.

-The foyer is used about four times

-a year for a guitar fair...

-..with 400 to 500 guitars for sale.

-People can play the guitars in

-the rings, to check the acoustics.

-We have antique fairs -

-all kinds of things.

-Having said that...

-..we mustn't forget

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

-..who originally created this place.

-Yes, indeed.

-Mr Harry Woodhead

-established the place.

-Harry was one of three brothers.

-Two of them established

-and managed Woodhead Brothers.

-Harry decided to build this mart.

-How many days a week

-are markets held here?

-That's apart from fur and feather

-markets and so forth.

-We sell store cattle and sheep

-and lambs every other Tuesday.

-When there aren't any store cattle,

-we sell furniture...

-..and antiques, knick-knacks,

-all sorts of things.

-We usually have about 1,200 lots

-and two auctioneers.

-These are held on Tuesday evenings,

-starting at 4.00pm.

-Primestock sales

-take place on Thursdays.

-We start selling pigs at 9.00am.

-We're usually finished

-by about 3.00pm.

-Markets are important

-in agricultural circles.

-Yes, people gather

-and enjoy a pint or a meal...

-..and discuss the week's events.

-We have our regulars -

-farmers who come every week.

-They shop at the green store

-next door.

-We have an office accountant -

-lots of people use his services.

-His services are useful

-during sales, too.

-Let's move on -

-you lead and I'll follow.

-Otherwise I could end up in Skipton!

-Who sits here - deacons?!

-They're seats for the buyers.

-Don't forget, most buyers are here

-from 8.00am on a Thursday morning.

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

-so they need seats.

-The site has offices

-available to rent.

-The cafe is a private enterprise.

-What do you have in here?

-Andrew manages everything.

-Selling furniture

-is a major part of the business.

-Every other week, when we aren't

-selling stores, we sell furniture.

-We sell antiques and knick-knacks.

-This is the furniture saleroom.

-It can accommodate up to 100 lots.

-Some goods were removed yesterday,

-more will be removed today.

-In general, we have room

-for 200 to 250 lots of furniture.

-We're located next door

-to a place called SuperSkills.

-It's a training company for

-plasterers, builders and joiners.

-Yes, Andrew is a busy man.

-After selling all day,

-he takes off his coat...

-..and retreats to his new home

-situated in magnificent countryside.

-Thirsk is surrounded

-by fertile agricultural land.

-In May, the fields

-are full of rapeseed crops...

-..with their distinctive

-yellow flowers.

-The valley is dotted

-with ancient villages...

-..brimming with character.

-Andrew and his wife, Dwynwen...

-..have established their new home

-in one of these villages, Topcliffe.

-Dwynwen, Andrew has settled down

-well in this area.

-How about you?

-How about you?

-

-Yes, he has.

-It took longer for me to settle -

-six months to a year.

-He came because of the job.

-I found a job

-with another estate agent...

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

-I didn't enjoy it.

-Then I found a job with

-my present company, James Winn.

-I'm the office manager.

-Is it similar

-to your previous job in Anglesey?

-It's better, if anything.

-It's a higher position

-and I'm in charge of more people.

-This area is a lot more prosperous.

-First time buyers, for example...

-..are looking at houses

-priced at about 250,000.

-In Anglesey, you start at the

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

-This is a large house

-with a lot of character.

-Did it need a lot of work?

-Yes, a lot of work.

-We still haven't finished,

-particularly upstairs.

-You wouldn't believe

-how much Artex there is!

-But it's my fault

-that we bought this house.

-I was working with James Winn

-in Thirsk at the time...

-..rather than in Northallerton.

-I was asked to take some people

-to view this house.

-I went in

-and had a quick look through it...

-..and then I phoned Andrew

-immediately.

-I told him he had to come

-and see the house.

-I didn't give the other people

-much time to view the house!

-I almost pushed them out!

-The next minute, he arrived

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

-What language do you speak at home?

-What language do you speak at home?

-

-Welsh.

-People at work can't understand

-why we speak Welsh.

-We just do!

-That's the way we are.

-Sometimes, we switch

-between Welsh and English.

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

-to the Angel on Friday evenings...

-..we switch to speaking English

-when our friends arrive.

-When Andrew peels potatoes,

-does he sing in Welsh or English?

-It's a long time

-since he's done that!

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-The old market town of Thirsk

-in North Yorkshire...

-..was the birthplace of vet

-and author James Herriot.

-The surrounding farms and hills

-provided the setting...

-..for the television series

-All Creatures Great And Small.

-As you travel east

-to the North York Moors...

-..you're struck immediately

-by the delightful character...

-..of the villages and the landscape.

-This village is called Kepwick.

-It's one of dozens

-of small villages in the area.

-There are lots of small cottages.

-People who lived here many years ago

-used to work on large estates...

-..felling trees and whatever else

-they did on those estates.

-I love the colour of the stone

-used for building.

-Local stone.

-Yes, it's a lovely sight.

-New houses are still built

-in a fairly traditional style...

-..using bricks of a similar colour.

-It's important,

-in a place like this.

-Yes, to preserve

-the beauty of the area.

-The area is noted for its

-large estates and grand mansions...

-..built by the wealth of the

-north-east's past industrialists...

-..such as shipbuilders, and textile,

-leather and wool pioneers...

-..and families of brewers.

-The scenery is amazing.

-What's that place over there?

-We're looking back towards Thirsk...

-..and in the distance,

-the Yorkshire Dales.

-Where you see that mountain,

-you'll find Hawes and Hexham.

-I've been looking at the houses -

-there's a very stately house nearby.

-That's Cowesby Hall.

-That's the name of the house.

-This land belongs to Cowesby Hall -

-it has about 300 acres...

-..including the woodland behind us.

-It's easy to see

-why you fell in love with this area.

-Yes.

-On the outskirts of Kepwick, there's

-a farm owned by the Woodhead family.

-Stay Farm is one of the farms

-owned by Ian Woodhead...

-..chairman of Thirsk mart

-and Andrew's boss.

-His sheep winter on the low hills...

-..and graze on the high moors

-in summer.

-This morning...

-..we're visiting a farm owned

-by Ian Woodhead, the mart chairman.

-Behind us you can see a few hundred

-Scottish ewe lambs.

-These will shortly be loaded

-and transported to Pembrokeshire.

-Ian hires them out, in a way,

-to a chap called Richard Savoury.

-He travels around

-all the agricultural shows...

-..performing a sheep show

-from a large trailer.

-They're fine lambs -

-they've had good grazing.

-Local farms remain

-in the same families for decades.

-Yes.

-Farms come on the market

-very rarely.

-They're passed on

-to the next generation.

-People inherit their farms

-from their families.

-This factor also helps to retain

-the area's character.

-The people who live here.

-We're high above sea level now -

-we're up in the gods.

-Where exactly are we now?

-We're on a mountain.

-This mountain is called Stay Moor.

-You can't get much higher

-above sea level.

-Behind us are about 20

-Belted Galloway cattle.

-They're a wonder to behold,

-and looking well.

-They live out here throughout

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

-..and the weather can be rough.

-It's a diminishing breed, but

-there's a revived interest in it.

-Yes, there's a revival.

-Ian is establishing

-pedigree cattle...

-..he has five of them up here.

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

-They'll survive anything.

-Rain or shine,

-wind and rain, and snow.

-Of course, it's the Galloway.

-Did you say five of these

-are pure-bred?

-Yes.

-There are two bulls.

-Yes, two bulls, Bruce and George.

-They should work happily

-in such a magnificent landscape.

-If they don't work,

-at least they have lovely views.

-Which is best, do you think?!

-The main livestock mart in Thirsk

-is held on Thursday.

-Farmers come to buy and sell from

-all parts of Yorkshire and beyond.

-They bring pigs, sheep and cattle.

-From dawn until mid-morning,

-it's a hive of activity.

-AN AUCTIONEER SPEAKS RAPIDLY

-THROUGH A LOUDSPEAKER

-I start work at 6.00am.

-People start bringing pigs

-at 6.15am to 6.30am.

-Pigs are the first to arrive.

-Do you get many pigs at the mart?

-No, we're lucky to have 100.

-Prices aren't good at the moment,

-so there aren't many pigs.

-There are lots of sheep.

-We have about 1,500 hogs,

-but the trade is declining now.

-We're past the busiest time

-for hogs.

-We often see auctioneers walking

-along planks above the pens.

-They stand on planks

-as they do the selling.

-But you bring all animals

-into the ring.

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

-Selling lambs from a plank...

-..is much easier

-than bringing them into a ring.

-But this is the custom

-at most marts in the area.

-What are the main differences

-between Wales and Thirsk?

-It's busier here.

-Where primestock is concerned...

-..sheep, lambs and fat cattle

-are sold every Thursday.

-We start work at 6.00am

-every Thursday.

-Everyone is here by 6.00am.

-Once the lambs and hogs

-have been sold...

-..I check that the paperwork

-is correct...

-..I work out the averages...

-..and check movement licences

-and sheep EID.

-This is done on a computer.

-Everything must be above board.

-One of the women is paying out -

-sellers are paid on the day.

-You pay on the day?

-Yes, it's important.

-We have so much stock, and sellers

-go home with a cheque in their hand.

-AN AUCTIONEER SPEAKS

-THROUGH A LOUDSPEAKER

-There are some very sweet cattle

-entering the ring now.

-Yes - and these

-have come from Wales.

-From Mid Wales - from Tregaron,

-and from Knighton mart.

-Good gracious!

-Who's been buying them -

-Coedmore Hall?

-Yes, and they bring them up here.

-That's a nice heifer.

-This heifer has come

-from Aberystwyth...

-..Williams Ty Newydd, Llangwyryfon.

-Ty Newydd in Llangwyryfon?!

-He's one of my neighbours!

-I've come all this way

-to see a heifer from home!

-Yes, there are strong links

-between Thirsk mart and Wales.

-Andrew has little time

-to feel homesick for Anglesey...

-..or for the land of his fathers.

-Another day is almost over.

-Has it been a successful day?

-Yes, another successful mart.

-We had plenty of stock.

-Most prices were good,

-though some were poor.

-Looking to the future,

-what would you like to see?

-I'd like to see

-more livestock sales.

-Instead of selling stores

-every other week...

-..I'd move furniture sales

-to another day...

-..so we can sell stores, sheep

-and lambs regularly every week.

-And this is where your future lies?

-And this is where your future lies?

-

-Yes, this is my future.

-S4C subtitles by Trosol Cyf.

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