Sheep shearing

Sheep farming has been an integral part of the agricultural scene in the Bourne area for centuries although many of the associated skills have died out. These, as with ploughing today, were perpetuated by annual competitions when the best in the district were offered cash prizes and sometime silver cups, to demonstrate their prowess, and these events also became social occasions when farmers and farm workers could meet and eat and drink and celebrate their work.

The Bourne Agricultural Society was particularly active in this respect during the 19th century and among the events they organised was a sheep shearing competition each year which began in 1867. The third annual competition was held on Thursday 10th June 1869 and the flavour of the occasion was caught by the local correspondent for the Stamford Mercury who reported the proceedings on Friday 18th June as follows:

The third annual sheep shearing in connection with the Bourne Agricultural Society took place on the 10th inst., in the paddock of the Six Bells Inn [at No 35 North Street, now demolished]. There were 26 entries, 25 of whom competed, and judging from the number of persons who witnessed the competition considerable interest was taken in the matter by the farmers and others in the town and neighbourhood.

The sheep, numbering 100 very fine animals, belonged to Mr John Freeman, of Dyke, who must have been well satisfied with the manner in which they were clipped. The judges of the clipping were Mr Looker of Huntingdon, Mr J H Casswell of Laughton, and Mr Joseph Scales of Graby. Mr Looker and Mr Edward Grummitt of Stainfield were the judges of the wool winding. A good dinner was provided for the competitors at the Six Bells Inn. The judges, the committee, and others interested, numbering about 50, repaired to the Angel Hotel and sat down to an excellent dinner provided in Mr Henry Bott's usual liberal style. The chair was occupied by Thomas Lawrance Esq., of Haconby, and the vice chair by Mr George Bettinson of Dyke. On the cloth being removed, the usual loyal toasts were proposed by the chairman who then announced the prizes as follows:

Class 1: To the farmer's son under 25 years of age, not in business for himself, for shearing the best manner three sheep within 2½ hours - a silver cup (supplied by Mr Thomas Pearce, of Bourne), value £4. 4s., to Blott Peake of Spalding.
Class 2: To the farmer's son under 20 years of age, not in business for himself, for shearing as above - £2. 2s to Thomas Phillips, son of Mr George Phillips, of Bourne Fen.
Class 3: To the shepherd, being a yearly hired servant of one master, for shearing four sheep within two hours - 1st prize of £2, to Joseph Barsley of Pinchbeck; and 2nd of £1 to Rowland Speed of Moulton.
Class 4: To the labourer in husbandry for shearing as above - 1st prize of £2 to Thomas Woodward of Langtoft; and 2nd of £1 to Robert Sandall of Thurlby.
Class 5: To the youth under 20 years of age, not a farmer's son, for shearing three sheep within 2½ hours - no competition in this class in consequence of there not being the number of entries required by the rules.
Class 6: (Open to all England) to the man for shearing five sheep within four hours - £3 to James Pocklington of Moulton.
Class 7: To the man for winding the best manner not less than 10 fleeces of wool - 1st prize of £1 to Thomas Pridmore of Bourne Fen; and 2nd of 10s. to John Penney of Bourne.

After awarding the prizes, the chairman rose to propose "The Health of the Judges" who had acquitted themselves well in the difficult task they had had to perform and he thought that the ability displayed in the discharge of their duties must be satisfactory to all. It was pleasing to find that all parties connected with this society were anxious to promote its success. He could wish that it had devolved upon someone more efficient to preside over the meeting but being called upon to occupy that position he should try to discharge the duties in the best manner he was able.

Mr Joseph Scales, in replying, congratulated the Bourne Clipping Association upon the excellent quality of the work. Taking it as a whole, he thought he never saw better, The work done in the All England class was superb and that in the class for farmers' sons was highly creditable. He was glad to see them able to use the shears for when he saw them excel in this, and other agricultural pursuits, he thought there was reason to hope they would be able to prosecute their vocation successfully.

Mr Edward Grummitt briefly returned thanks on behalf of the judges of the wool winding. The chairman then proposed "The Health of Mr John Freeman" who had supplied the association with such an excellent lot of sheep which were really very fine animals indeed and all that could be wished for the occasion; in fact, such a lot of splendid sheep were rarely to be met with and he felt sure he should express the sentiments of the meeting when he announced that a debt of gratitude was due to Mr Freeman for the support he had thus afforded to the association.

Mr Freeman, in returning thanks, said he was desirous of assisting the association all he could: he had had sheep turned off the clipping board sometimes which were a disgrace to the clipper and he hoped the efforts of this society would tend to an improvement in this respect. He thought he could have made a little more money of the sheep sometime back, but if they had given satisfaction today he was glad: and should be amply rewarded to find that he had been able to promote the interest of the society.

Mr George Bettinson proposed "The Health of the Chairman" which was very warmly received and suitably responded to. Mr S E Dean of Dowsby proposed "The Committee" coupling with it the name of Mr George Bettinson, the vice-chairman, and in doing so said that sheep shearing was an important thing: he felt convinced that for some years clipping had not been attended to in this neighbourhood as it ought to have been and therefore he hoped that this society would continue to receive the support it deserved. Acting upon the maxim of bending the twig while it is young, he should like to see the sheep were frequently put into the hands of farmers' boys.

Mr George Bettinson, in replying to this toast, said those interested in the association must be pleased with its operations during the last three years and this should encourage them to press on in this useful enterprise. He endorsed the views of the last speaker as to the boys; might it not be worthwhile for each farmer to try and find a boy into whose hands he could put the shears with a view to making him a clipper? He should like to see six or eight competitors in the boys' class; of course the work would not be so well done as in other classes, but it would be a step in the direction of progress.

Mr Burgess followed, recommending that the boys should begin young to handle shears, and that farmers should be able to say to the men: "If you don't clip my sheep as they ought to be, I'll clip them myself."

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