Bellingham lamb sale remembered

Helen also happens to carry a camera whenever she can to record her everyday work with the sheep and the dramatic landscape in which she operates. So when it appeared that the mart's days could be numbered, Helen set about photographing the last three sales - especially the final event on October 10, 2004.

She was frequently asked for copies of the pictures so now Helen has self-published a book of her images, called The Last Mart.

It will be launched at the Bellingham Show tomorrow. (Saturday)

Helen, who grew up in Langley in the South Tyne Valley, took up shepherding at the age of 18 after leaving Haydon Bridge High School.

She first worked in Redesdale and then the North Tyne Valley, where she has lived ever since, and is now a self-employed contract shepherd.

"I love the great outdoors and the farmers and shepherds are all characters. It's a way of life," said Helen. "There is a lot of talk about rural tourism but the countryside we see wouldn't look like it does without farming, and there is a great satisfaction in managing it well." Helen has the task of photographing tomorrow's show, which is a natural follow-on from her recording of the final flurries of the mart.

She said: "The mart was a truly magical place, with its character and general feel.

"It was a very friendly place and people genuinely looked forward to their day at Bellingham mart.

"It is a massive loss."

In tandem with her photographs, Helen carried out her own research
into the mart, talking with older farmers.

"Anyone you talk to has tales and fond memories of the mart," said Helen.

Her aim has been simply to cover the publication costs of the book, which will sell for £17 paperback and £22 hardback.

"I funded the book with my lambing cheque and it was never a profit-making venture," she said.

"The book is purely to enable everyone who wanted to have copies of the photographs to be able to do so."

Helen has 250 copies to sell and the book will also be available on www.blub.com

The mart closed after its income was hit by the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak and what would have been the cost of implementing new Government regulations. The first recorded wool sale at Bellingham was in July, 1861.

In 2004, the sale had a catalogued entry of 9,887 sheep.

The last lambs to be sold in the mart's number one ring were from Dennis Wilkinson, of Barneystead.

They were, in fact, sold three times over to raise a total of £640 for the Great North air ambulance. "Bellingham Mart bowed out in style," said Helen.

Tomorrow's show will feature a shared stand between Northumberland National Park and Bellingham Heritage Centre, with demonstrations of how to cook Dunterly Farm mutton , ladies spinning, the story of fleece and children's sheepy activities.

DVD WILL ALSO GO ON SALE

A DVD of Bellingham mart will also be launched at tomorrow's (Saturday) show.

The Last Sheep Sale: A Local Tradition Gone But Not Forgotten was filmed by the same team which made a series for Tyne Tees Television.

They included The Last Horsemen, The Last Fishermen and The Last Shepherds.

The 45-minute DVD, costing £12.99, will be distributed by Northern Heritage, and was made possible by sponsorship from Northumberland National Park and a donation by Hexham and Northern Marts.

Sean MacNiallus, of Bellingham Heritage Centre, said: "The closure of Bellingham mart was a great blow to farmers and traders across a wide area of Northumberland.

"It not only meant that farmers and livestock breeders had to travel further to sell their animals, but the town also lost a lively event that brought welcome business.

"It was the end too of a great social gathering where people met friends from far and wide."

A vintage bus used in the TV series Heartbeat will carry passengers between the Heritage Centre, Bellingham and Bellingham showground tomorrow from 9.30am-3.30pm

A second vintage bus will operate between Otterburn and the show, leaving Otterburn Mill car park at 10.15 am. with return services at 3pm. and 4pm. The service is being provided by the Heritage Centre in conjunction with Aycliffe & District Bus Preservation Society.