From the Horsebox

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There were plenty of flat caps at Crewe Station on Tuesday morning, 19th November as everyone from the Cheshire farming community trouped up to the capital to join the many thousands who wanted to make their voices count in opposition to the assault on family farms.

Richard Blackburn, third generation family farmer talks to From the Horsebox.

Plus two short interviews with fellow marchers, Ollie Skinner and Sarah Taylor, who were kind enough to let me record.


https://youtu.be/Xq5qmyYNwHk

(Research podcast)

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"Intangible Cultural Heritage," falconry is as ancient as the History of Mankind.
'Mews' property, 'hoodwinking,' and 'haggard,' are all words with a rich cultural past.
Mark and fellow falconers preserve and protect some magnificent birds of prey whilst giving them a role to live as they should in the natural world.

The following podcast from the BBC's World Service was fascinating background to Mark's story.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct1rl8

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Join two seasoned gamekeepers, Tom and Alex Painter, as we explore the world of high flying game.
Though known as a gamekeeper, Tom has got a rock 'n' roll twist to his story in his younger days.
Alex' deep understanding of the traditional and correct way of doing things, learned from his father and being a good shot- make him a trusted figure and much in demand in local shoots.

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"An extraordinary casting coach who teaches you how to fish rather than merely cast" is how one of his fellow fishermen describes him.
As part of the charity 'Get Hooked on Fishing' enabling thousands to try fishing, he 'puts something back' in more ways than one.
A keen naturalist, he encourages an holistic approach to managing all wildlife in the river's ecosystem. 
Altogether, someone who goes out of his way to promote his sport to everyone, fully deserving of his MBE.
His website is called, "The Adipose Fin'.

Some markers below to guide you through the episode:
2.08.   MBE for charity work with "Get Hooked on Fishing"
7.59.   The 'Salmo', the royal fish
11.16    Some numbers of fish caught this summer
14.12    Fish farms...
17.12    The Welsh Dee
21.17    Wiers...
25.03   The role of the ghillies.
29.20   How do salmon leap?
30.39   Brown bears fishing 
32.02   "A River Runs Through It" by Robert Redford, fishing in Montana.
35.19     Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse' fishing programme!

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"Its only worth what someone is prepared to give"
The live auction is still the best way to determine the right buyer and the right price. The popularity of platforms like eBay and  T.V's "Bargain Hunt" indicate peoples' fascination with the 'art'.

The auctioneer is the crucible for all this to take place and their skills make all the difference to trade. 

Our guest is the perfect example of someone with a passionate knowledge of the animals he is selling and the people involved.

Sion graduated from Aberystwyth University in 2017 with a 2:1 agricultural degree.
In November 2020 he was senior auctioneer at St Asaph Livestock Market for Jones Peckover Ltd.
He was voted auctioneer of the year in 2022 and has won at The National Eisteddfod with his singing in that year.

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Marcus has many personal anecdotes to draw on for his writing career, from his 20 years as an amateur jockey.
Winning the Grand National with Mr. Frisk 
Competing in the Velka Pardubicka in the Czech Republic
Racing in Russia in the early 90's
Recently covering The Derby and Royal Ascot he describes the influences on putting the articles together for The Daily Telegraph and how he has to react to events, such as the horses escaping from the Household Cavalry in Central London that day, possibly his biggest reach in readership for the year.

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The glorious world of country clothing seen through the eyes of Patrick Barker from Crichton Bespoke. 
He creates a 'Savile Row experience' in the North of England, through his shop in Chester, which incorporates 'The Disguisery' cocktail bar.
From hunt coat repairs, shooting tweeds to an orange suit, this is the place for the individual. 
How do the red trousers fit in? and much more...

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Artisan producers of  Thomond Gate whisky and The Lost Barn coffee will get your taste buds going this month with their latest products.
Nick Ryan tells a  whisky galore of a story which puts us in touch with  a great age of Irish whiskey production in Limerick.
The Lost Barn whiskey coffee will also give you a sensational 'time capsule' experience if you taste it, its extraordinary.


#thomondgatewhiskey
#thelostbarncoffeeroasters
#wrekinwhiskysshrewsbury

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Happy Easter everyone, with a third anniversary episode with Caroline Robinson (nee Beasley), who farms and trains a string of pointers at Sheriffhales in Shropshire, as well as acting as honorary chair of stewards panels under rules, holds two records that will never be broken. She was the first lady jockey to ride a winner at the Cheltenham Festival when she took the Foxhunters on her own Eliogarty in 1983, then the first to be successful over the Grand National course when she won the Aintree equivalent three years later on the same horse.
We chat about the joint Wynnstay/Flint and Denbigh point to point as well as her stewarding at Cheltenham this time and her daughter, Immy having a great ride in the hunter chase riding D’jango.

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Hugo Owen co hosts the "On Hunting" and "A Dream and a Fear" podcasts.
Both have riveting guests and subject matter.
With a title a quotation from Joseph Conrad's novella "Heart of Darkness," "A Dream and a Fear  covers stories of unimaginable hardship and bravery in the Golden Age of Antarctic Exploration to the Titanic disaster.
Hugo gives us a nostalgic look at the bravery of the Great Explorers- but it is the modern world's challenges, which Hugo is taking  on, as he sets off on his own travels, exploring living on the edge for himself.
The  "On Hunting" podcast is a ground breaker in opening up discussion to a wider audience about the countryside and its wildlife. Again the battle is on in our modern world, to preserve the traditions for the people who go trail hunting as well as it being best placed to look after our wildlife.
On Hunting's  latest episode is with Charlie Pye-Smith, whose book "Rural Wrongs" explains evidence being ignored by opponents to trail hunting.

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