The Fatstock Show

The Christmas Fatstock Show

The Christmas Prize Fatstock Show was a feature of farming life in Bourne from the late 19th century, beginning in 1873 when the town had a thriving weekly cattle market and it continued for more than 100 years. There had previously been a horse show but the use of horses was declining as farms became mechanised and so it was decided to hold an annual fatstock show instead.

The event was suspended during the Second World War from 1939-45 but was resumed in 1954 and the last show president, Geoff Hyde, whose father Dolby Hyde was a regular exhibitor, remembered: "Even then the cups were not presented because they were still in the bank vault."

These included two magnificent trophies. The first was the Fred Casswell Champion Cup from 1899, donated by Fred Casswell of Dunsby Fen, to be awarded to the champion beast that year, and when the cup was eventually sold at auction it was bought by the society in memory of the late Bob Wright, a cattle dealer and regular buyer at the show, and renamed the Bob Wright Memorial Cup to be awarded annually.

Sheep carcass ready for Christmas sale
Photo: William Redshaw

Sheep carcass bought by a local butcher ready for Christmas sale. The writing on the beam above says "Weight of this sheep is 285 lbs."

The second was a magnificent two-handled silver cup on a plinth, dated 1892 and valued at £5,000, donated by Councillor [later Alderman] Thomas Whyment Atkinson, of Haconby, in 1920 to be awarded annually for the best beast in the show.

An annual dinner serving a mixture of meats was also part of the tradition since the earliest times, firstly at the Nag's Head Inn, when it was kept by James Baxter Shilcock, one time show secretary, and later across the road in the long room at the Angel Hotel, where on one occasion, 106 diners consumed 110 bottles of Scotch. These convivial occasions always ended with the singing of Who Killed Cock Robin?

The show's future was threatened with the closure of the cattle market in 1982 and the site became part of the Burghley Centre and car park development. But largely due to the efforts of the late Fred Asher, the show survived and switched to the cattle market at Stamford where it was held annually until the foot and mouth epidemic closed most agricultural and fatstock shows in 2001.

Bourne however continued but instead of the traditional livestock section and auction, the committee held an innovative Lincolnshire sausage and pork pie competition in the Corn Exchange on Thursday 6th December, just a few yards away from the old cattle market site and it was followed by the traditional dinner and presentation of prizes.

Show chairman Graham Clay explained: "Foot and mouth has had a devastating effect on all farming events throughout the country but we were determined that our show would go on. Instead of the usual livestock classes, competitions have been organised for local butchers to show their pork pies and Lincolnshire sausages for which the county is rightly famous and proud."

But in the summer of 2002, the committee decided at its annual meeting to end the Bourne Christmas Fatstock Show for good, mainly due to the lack of a suitable venue. The cattle market at Stamford had announced earlier in the year that it would not be re-opening after the foot and mouth epidemic and there was no other alternative venue available. Show president Geoff Hyde told the meeting: "The show and dinners have been well supported in years past, giving people both inside and outside farming a great deal of pleasure and none more so than the local exhibitors who have helped give the area a reputation for the production of quality livestock."

The show was wound up with a final meeting at the Angel Hotel on Thursday 18th March 2004 when three long-serving members were honoured with awards for their past work, Geoff Hyde, president of the committee, who had been involved since 1954, being presented with a silver cigarette box, Fred King, the treasurer, who had been involved since 1969, receiving the Bob Wright Memorial Cup, and another trophy, the Bob Mackman Cup, was presented to Elaine Giles who was secretary for many years.

A glimpse of what the event was like in past years can be found in these reports of the show from the Stamford Mercury:

Friday 17th December 1886

The Bourne Christmas Fatstock Show was held yesterday in Mr Shilcock's paddock. It was managed by a thoroughly representative committee under the chairmanship of Mr J Freeman, of Dyke, Mr Thomas Hardwick and Mr James B Shilcock, of Bourne, being the secretaries. The show, too, had the advantage of an influential list of patrons. Competition was restricted to those living within 10 miles of Bourne, unless the competitor had been a regular patron at the Bourne market. The entries were considerably in excess of those last year, there being 68 beasts, 90 sheep, 10 pigs and 62 poultry: total 230. Mr T Atkinson, of Postland, Mr Rowland Goddard, of Melton, and Mr T Newton, of Harrowby Hall, were judges of stock; and Mrs J T Bacon, of Bulby, Mrs Edwin Redmile, of Dyke, and Mr Tolley McCann, of Billingborough, of poultry, &c. There were 160 beasts for sale, which made an attractive array. The awards gave great satisfaction. Prices were somewhat low, fine beasts selling from £30 to £32. The show was very successful. Mr [John Compton] Lawrance, M P, presided at the usual dinner afterwards.

Friday 23rd December 1887

Christmastide: There is abundant energy being manifested in the seasonable decorations of the various business establishments at Bourne. The butchers have quite a fine show. Mr Mays [George Mays, butcher, Eastgate] has killed 300 sheep (two of which have been lately exhibited at the Smithfield Show, one weighing 211 lb,, the other 187 lb.) and nine beasts. Mr Williamson [Joseph Williamson, butcher, North Street] has on view one of the prize beasts at the Bourne show. Mr Mansfield [William Mansfield, butcher, Church Street] had a splendid show of fatstock on Tuesday, including Mr J Grummitt's [John Grummitt, farmer, North fen] prize beast at Bourne show.

Prize winning beast for Christmas meat

Richard Stevenson with his latest beast purchased in readiness for Christmas at the Bourne Fatstock show, circa 1885, and (below) the meat ready for sale outside his butcher's shop at No 15 West Street where he can be seen in the doorway with members of his family. The shop is still used as a butchery business but is owned today by N L Sandall & Sons although the building in the picture has been demolished and replaced by modern shop premises.

Butcher's shop circa 1890

FROM THE ARCHIVES

PRIZE SHEEP: A very remarkable sheep has been exhibited in the shop of Mr [John] Williamson, the property [in Church Street, now Abbey Road] of that celebrated ram breeder, Mr John Henry Caswell, of Laughton. It took the first prize, a 20 guinea cup and ten pounds at the Grantham show: was a three-shear sheep and weighed, without the kidney fat, the immense weight of 304 lbs. For size, quality and symmetry, it could not be easily surpassed. It was seen and admired by most of the leading farmers, graziers, and the public generally, who unanimously pronounced it the finest animal they have ever seen. - news item from the Grantham Journal, Saturday 17th July 1869.