Country Matters 2017

AUCTIONS

Peter Jack's
retirement sale

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Livestock Auctions

Markets offer more than a chance to buy and sell. They’re the heart of the farming
community, as Bradley Towell discovers

Livestock auction markets have played a key role auction tax was the method of payment, later to be replaced
in rural life since the 19th century. As well as by the commission system.
being a central point for trading livestock, they’ve
been a hub for socialising, business networking Before the railways, the movement of livestock was only
possible by droving them on foot between destinations. As

and sharing information. railway networks were developed, the location of markets

Livestock markets have evolved focused on accessibility to railway
with the agricultural industry and, stations. In Dorset, for example,
Sturminster Newton market
Livestock markets havedespite financial and physical adjoined the railway, and the
evolved with the agriculturalchallenges, continue to provide a auction sale times co-ordinated with
the train timetable.
‘‘competitive and transparent method

industry and provide aof trading livestock.
‘‘
Market towns competitive and transparent The introduction of motor
vehicles meant that livestock
method of trading
The earliest form of livestock market transporters were less dependent

often co-existed with those specific on railways. However, markets

locations where people came together remained located in the middle of

to buy and sell the essentials of everyday life. In many cases towns until the 21st century when newer centres were built in

this was in a market town, from which many livestock markets more accessible out-of-town locations.

still operate. Moving with the times
Trading at Hawick livestock market in Scotland can be

traced back to 1817, although it was not until 1840 that the Today’s livestock markets continue to provide a transparent,

auction system we use today became fully established. The competitive trading facility where the vendor’s money is

first auctioneers were governed by excise and therefore guaranteed on the fall of the hammer. Vendors can also

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withdraw livestock from the sale if they are not satisfied with Frome Livestock
the price, although this rarely happens at markets where
there are enough buyers in attendance to ensure competitive Auctioneers Ltd
bidding.
Market Days and Times
The livestock market still features as a business and social
centre for the farming community. Many have relocated, but Wednesdays:
the traditional retail and service facilities have not been lost as Calves 10.00am
grocery shops, market stalls, professional offices and services Sheep & Cull Ewes 10.00am
have been drawn to the centres. In Somerset, Frome market Fat Lambs & Stores 10.30am
has stalls selling a wide variety of produce and clothing to the
many farming folk who visit from a very wide area.

In fact, Frome is one of the most successful livestock
markets in the country. Symonds & Sampson is proud to
be joint auctioneer at Frome market (along with Cooper
& Tanner), bringing our breadth of livestock valuation and
auctioneering expertise to the weekly sales of cattle and
sheep of all categories that attract buyers from across the UK.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Dairy Cattle 11.00am Ring 2
Barren Cows/Fat Cattle 11.30am Ring 1

Fridays: 10.30am Ring 2
Store Cattle

Suckler Cow and Calf sales take place
on Wednesdays as required.

Sale of organic Store Cattle takes place
one Friday in every month.

Orange TB sales are held monthly on a Monday.

Tel: 01373 830033
Email: [email protected]

www.fromelivestock.com

Bradley Towell MRICS
Sherborne 01935 818514

btowell@

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Driving Force

Were tractors really the forerunners of the F1 and supercars of today?

T he most popular tractor sold today, John Ferguson era
Deere, started life 180 years ago in a small
blacksmiths in Illinois. Back in 1837, the In 1902, Harry Ferguson was working for his brother, repairing
eponymous John bicycles and cars. After developing a fascination with aviation,

Deere used polished steel, he persuaded his brother that they should attempt to build

rather than the traditional an aircraft and, in 1909, the Ferguson monoplane took to the

cast-iron, to transform a simple skies. A disagreement over safety concerns saw the brothers

plough into a more efficient part company and Harry eventually set up an agricultural

tool. Over time, the company business.  

expanded its product line, David Brown, meanwhile, was manufacturing gear parts

eventually adding tractors in 1918, and John and, in 1936, he joined forces with Harry Ferguson to start

Deere evolved into a global powerhouse. It is manufacturing under the Ferguson-Brown name, going on to

now responsible for a third of all produce the first tractor with hydraulic lifting and converging

new tractor registrations in the ‘‘Ferguson developed a three-point linkage.
UK and is listed on the New York research team that went
Stock Exchange as one of the on to produce the first A few years later, Brown and
wealthiest companies in ‘‘ Ferguson went their separate ways
the world.  and David Brown Tractors was formed
as a standalone company, while Harry
Ferguson entered into the ‘handshake

Agri to automobiles Formula One four-wheel agreement’with Henry Ford. This venture
resulted in the production of the 9N
However, other tractor
manufacturers have not always drive racing car tractor, introduced in 1939. It was
officially called a ‘Ford tractor with the

been so focused on producing Ferguson system’, although the name

purely agricultural machinery. Britain’s Harry Ferguson and Ford-Ferguson was widely used. But it all came to an end in

Sir David Brown, along with America’s Henry Ford, have all 1947 when Henry Ford II, Ford’s grandson and now president

shaped the car market into what it is today – and for very of the company, decided

different reasons. that he disliked

Henry Ford was involved in both agriculture and the this ‘gentleman’s

automotive industry and set up a separate company, Henry agreement’.

Ford & Co, just so he could build tractors. He found that,

by using car parts, he could halve production costs and, in

1917, the Fordson Model F tractor entered full production.

The rapid success of the agricultural company soon

prompted the parent company – Ford Motor Company – to

take over full control of the business.  

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Supercars The Ferguson P99 achieved
fame at the hands of
Meantime, David Stirling Moss, winning the
Formula One Oulton Park
Brown’s business Gold Cup in 1961. Sadly,
Ferguson died shortly
went from strength to before the car had its
amazing success.
strength and, in 1947,
The Ferguson company
he purchased a ‘high lived on and, by 1969,
motor companies
class motor business’ including Chrysler, Lotus, Matra and McLaren were clamouring
to use his four-wheel system, known as the Ferguson Formula,
for £20,500. That in both commercial and racing cars. The same system, using
open centre differential gear, is still used in four-wheel drive
turned out to be Aston Land Rovers today.  

Martin. Only a year  So when you’re next stuck behind a tractor or slow moving
agricultural vehicle,  remember that without the engineering
later, Brown purchased minds behind these machines you might not even be on the
road at all! 
Lagonda for £52,500

followed by the coach-

building company Sir David Brown
Tickford in 1955.

Brown’s obsession for automotive excellence and perfection

allowed the company to combine the highly tuned Lagonda

engines with the beautiful designed Aston Martin chassis in

the Tickford factory.

After years of success and a knighthood in 1968, Sir David

Brown experienced a change in fortune that forced him to

sell Aston Martin for just £100, but his legacy still runs today

with the initials DB carried on the latest flagship Aston Martin

DB9GT and DB11 models.  

Formula One

The world of motoring also appealed to Harry Ferguson. In
1950, Ferguson developed a research team that went on to
produce the first Formula One four-wheel drive racing car.

Greg Ridout MRICS
Yeovil 01935 382909

gridout@

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Sundae Best

How a Bridport couple
whipped up a successful
ice-cream business

Baboo Gelato is an award-winning ice-cream kiosk in West Bay, and also to a hand-picked selection of
company, set up in Bridport by Annie and restaurants, pubs and farm shops.
Sam Hanbury. The pair moved to Dorset in
2012, having fallen in love with an old rectory “We were incredibly lucky to be able to take on one of the
famous West Bay kiosks,”says Sam. “The other kiosk owners have

and its out-of-control orchard filled with rare apple, pear been so friendly. And what could beat a walk along the world

and plum trees. ‘‘With Italian know-how and ‘‘ famous Jurassic cliffs followed by fish
Initially it was chaos, says Sam: “In Dorset ingredients, she would and chips, and now an ice-cream, too?”
be able to produce a world-
the first year, if we wanted to pick Their first summer of sales have
raspberries we had to strim our way been better than their wildest
through.” expectations. “It really helped that we

Surrounded by dairy farms and beating ice-cream could meet and get feedback from
with a cornucopia of fruit, it seemed our customers every day,” says Annie.

a logical step to make ice-cream. “And we had a great team of students

But not just any ice-cream: gelato. Annie went to Bologna to working at the kiosk who were passionate about Baboo.”

train as a professional gelatiere. She is passionate about the Sam adds: “We’ve got a bit of a waiting list of pubs and

superiority of gelato. restaurants that want to carry our products, which is wonderful,

“Gelato is different from traditional English ice- cream as it but we’re moving slowly as we don’t want to grow too fast and

contains less cream, therefore less fat, and is churned more then let our customers down. A reputation is hard won but

slowly, letting in less air. This leads to a denser, more intensely soon lost.”

flavoured ice-cream,” she reveals. And finally, where does the name

Annie loved her time in Bologna. “I learnt so much from Baboo come from? It’s after

the masters of gelato making, which the Italians treat very Annie’s grandmother who

seriously. To them it is both an art and a science. There is the escaped Stalin’s

science of balancing ingredients; but there is also the art of Russia with five

flavour.” And Annie also concluded that, with Italian know- young children

how and Dorset ingredients, she would be able to produce a in 1930. She was

world-beating ice-cream. known to Annie

Quality ingredients as ‘Babu’, short for
babushka – Russian

“The quality of our ingredients are a very important part of our for grandmother.

product,” explains Annie. “We use milk from an organic farm

in Toller Porcorum, and we source as much of our fruit as we The scoop
can locally. It is exhausting to purée 100 kilos of strawberries

delivered first thing in the morning from Forde Abbey, but we Baboo Gelato’s range of ice-creams and sorbets are

know the ice-cream tastes much better for it.” available from their kiosk in West Bay, including in take-

During 2015, Sam and Annie bought state-of-the-art Italian away tubs. It can also be found in an increasing number

artisanal machinery and spent months perfecting their recipes. of West Dorset pubs and restaurants. For a list, go to

They opened the business in 2016, selling directly from their www.baboogelato.com

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AGRICULTURE

Farmland Trends
Andrew Tuffin, Head of Farm Agency, casts an expert eye over the farmland market

T here has been much commentary on how Confidence in the future
heated the farmland market has become in recent
years, and currently much speculation on the The UK currently imports 40 per cent of food consumed. This
impact of Brexit. The government has pledged to is alarmingly high given that we are capable of much higher

retain the current support mechanisms, including the Basic food self-sufficiency. This must give some confidence to our

farmers and processors for the future, and is possibly one of
Payment Scheme, beyond activating Article 50 until 2020. This the reasons so many farmers voted Leave.
has added a degree of certainty to the agricultural industry in
Our global economy for many foods make commodity
the short term, unlike many other sectors of the economy.
prices very competitive and volatile. It is commodity
The impact of changes to trade agreements could be far
prices and more specific location-based demands which
more significant than changes to agricultural subsidies. How
are key factors in determining
successful ministers are in negotiating
international trade deals and tariffs on ‘‘Agriculture tends ‘‘ farmland values.
agricultural produce and imports will be to do well in times of
crucial for commodity prices and UK farm Investment opportunities
profitability. Therefore, it is important
for the likes of NFU, CLA, processors, In the last 12 months, while farmer
importers and famers to lobby the
government during negotiations. economic uncertainty confidence has been subdued
mainly as a result of prolonged low

commodity prices, demand from

investors and lifestyle buyers has strengthened. In addition,

LAND BUYER PROFILE the weak pound creates interest and opportunity for overseas
buyers. Whereas international interest 10 years ago was often

from Irish and Danish sources, it is currently much wider

spread including Asia, Russia, France and South Africa.

Lifestyle The banking world is still adjusting to fiscal policies and
lending criteria and hence borrowers are subject to much

Farmers more scrutiny. Farmers are traditionally viewed as sound

20% borrowers, but a business’s profitability is now more
important than the amount of loan security.
45%
Therefore, while most farmers are able to secure funding
for land purchases, a number are unfortunately in special
measures with performance closely monitored. Many

predicted that we could see more forced sales, either

of whole farms or off-lying blocks. To date, this has not

30% materialised.
Local demand is becoming increasingly relevant. In our

region, there is a high concentration of successful dairy,

Private Investors 5% livestock and mixed farmers who – combined with estates
Institutions/Charity and other buyer types – provide demand for
land adjoining or close to their existing
landholding. This cannot be

Farmers still make up the largest proportion of buyers. said for the whole of the
However, their dominance has been in fluctuating decline UK where some
over the last 10 years. In 2008 farmers made up more than regions have seen
70 per cent and private investors under 10 per cent of prices falling by
buyers. Our illustration shows how the profile has changed. as much as
10 per cent.

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Supply and demand One aspect of the
marketplace that we
All said, the single most determining factor on land values is are certain of is that
the age-old maxim of supply and demand. Supply for the transactions are, on
last two years has been below the annual average which average, taking longer
has, to some degree, supported market prices. A glut of land to process. If you are
will certainly affect the current relative stability. However, considering a disposal
this seems unlikely with the resilience of farmers and desire or purchase, it is
by estates and institutions to maintain and even increase imperative that you are
landholdings. well prepared and take
advice from your agent, solicitor and accountant well in
The average land price in our region is currently at £8,600 advance. Consideration at an early stage of title preparation,
per acre and this has been quite constant. However, the property presentation, timing of sale, cropping and land
market is becoming more polarised with a greater range management, method of sale, guide prices, identifying
in sale prices. We have seen sales at under £6,000 to more sources of buyers, the marketing
than £15,000 per acre for blocks over 10 acres, location often campaign and identifying onward
being the main factor. purchases is highly advised.

Looking ahead Andrew Tuffin MRICS FAAV
Sturminster 01258 472244
Our forecast is that, although there is clearly evidence in
some areas of downward pressure on values, agriculture atuffin@
tends to do well in times of economic uncertainty and land
remains a diminishing and essential asset. Therefore, we
remain confident that values will not fall dramatically and
may rise again over the long term.

Get in Touch

We have 100 years of collective experience in our Farm Agency team.
Call us to see how we can help.

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SOLD SOLD SOLDSome of the
SOLD SOLD SSTC SOLDfarms we have
sold in 2016

North Dorset 178 acres

South Somerset 116 acres East Devon 59 acres

West Dorset 95 acres South Dorset 48 acres

Wiltshire 111 acres East Dorset 40 acres

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SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLDEast Devon 171 acres SOLD SOLD SSTCWiltshire 223 acres

North Dorset 54 acres South Somerset 45 acres

West Dorset 48 acres Hampshire 25 acres

LET

South Dorset 113 acres Dorset 155 acres

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Rural Finance

Providing tailored long-term funding Who can access AMC funding?
through AMC
Whether you are a sole trader, partnership, limited company
We are proud to work with AMC the leading supplier of long- or trust, providing you are an agricultural, horticultural,
term funding for the agricultural sector. equine or other commercial land-based business you can
access AMC’s competitive funding.
Who are AMC?
All lending must be for business purposes only and will be
AMC have more than 85 years’ experience lending to the provided on a secured loan basis.
agricultural sector, specialising in long-term mortgages
and loans for farms and rural businesses. It means they Types of loan available through AMC
understand the challenges and opportunities impacting you
and the whole agricultural sector. • Long-term borrowing* – allowing you to borrow from
£25,001 upwards through a long-term standard-loan.
The benefits of AMC finance Repayment terms are available between 5 and 30 years,
with interest rates that can be variable or fixed.
When we help you access AMC finance, you will receive a
swift response on your funding proposal. You will also benefit • Flexible short-term loans* – giving you loans from
from: Competitive mortgage rates, with interest-only and £30,000+ that can be spread over five years and the
repayment options available or a blend of both; Rates can be opportunity to make flexible monthly repayments to
set for the life of the agreement; No annual reviews or the match the ebb and flow of your cash flow throughout
need to see annual accounts; No early repayment charges the year.
for variable rate loans; Finance secured against land as well
as property to help you increase the capital you can raise; As an AMC Agent we have helped our clients find tailored
Loans and mortgage agreements can be transferred to the and competitive agricultural loans through our relationship
next generation; Funding decisions that can be approved in with AMC. We can provide expert guidance on your
principal before you make a sealed bid or go to auction. financial needs and a quick decision.  To discuss the options
of borrowing from AMC and how they could assist you
Please note that the above are subject to AMC credit please call one of the contacts below.
criteria and your obligations to AMC continuing to be met.

We must improve Guaranteed working Restructuring our
our buildings capital would help debt could help
this year our plans We would like to manage costs
We need to purchase the
restructure the neighbouring
partnership farm/land

*T� otal minimum AMC loan £25,001 (AMC Flexible Loan £30,001)

Edward Dyke Andrew Robinson Greg Ridout A-J Monro
01258 474261 01202 882103 07817 517467 07867 555838

symondsandsampson.co.uk

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How Many Farmers
Still Just Farm?

Price and currency fluctuations in the world markets, the power of the supermarkets to
push prices down and cheap food imports are all impacting on the profitability of UK food
production. With these and other pressures, how many of our farmers are able to rely solely
on income from producing the high quality food for which British farming is known?

As someone who works I haven’t touched on what both self-
with South West regional generation and the sale of renewable
farmers and land energy can provide, but there is a
owners, helping them wealth of choices and opportunities

with property issues, I am constantly available. Porter Dodson’s experience

amazed at the diverse businesses now in these areas has helped many clients

run from farms. This reaction to the review the options and quickly gain

vagaries of food production in the UK from the opportunities available.

is, in my opinion, going to create a So diversification may be the

fundamental change in how we look at salvation of our traditional landscape

farming and the countryside. and the farms which have created it.

“Adding value”, which should reflect in revenue, is a key The challenges of Brexit and the support which has in the last

objective in business. With low prices for produce, such as 40 plus years come from EU subsidies and the protection of

milk, the industry has seen a resurgence in the production of local food standards and names will all continue to impact on

regional and local cheeses, so that British cheese has the quality farmers and land owners in the coming years.

and range to worry France. Small scale production of meat With the variety of income sources and uses to which

products, such as sausages, hams and the wider charcuterie land and buildings are put, it is worth remembering that

offering, is also allowing farmers to add real value to their professional advice from advisors with an understanding of

quality beef, pork and lamb. this diversification can help ensure the process is as smooth

The massive popularity of cider, beer and wine with local as possible. Diversification can protect revenues, improve

provenance coupled with the rise of country style small batch profitability and can reduce the pressure of dealing with

gin production is showing traditional and new ways in which uncertain food prices.

land owners can increase and protect their income and move

from being at the vagaries of staple food commodity prices.

Helping farmers and rural businesses with the legal issues

relating to change of use, or the construction of new buildings

for business use, e.g. food and drink production, is only part of

the story. The rise of business units in converted barns, office

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EGdPuEcxaptieorntiSsector Expertise - KEy contactS 77















SHERBORNE
MARKET
STALLS

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L ive More & Eat Very Happily.  That’s us really – The entire range is made by the Olives Et Al Oliveers and is as nature
it’s as much an instruction as a statement intended; free from artificial colourings, flavours and preservatives.
of intent or credo. That means knowing
where our stuff comes from and making Devoted to discovering the very best in warm climate food, pop
sure we tread lightly on the planet – leaving a bit for the into our HQ Deli at Sturminster Newton and The Potting Shed at
next person. Poundbury to find out more.

For the last 23 years, we’ve been collecting authentic recipes www.olivesetal.co.uk
from all over the world and bringing them back to Olives
Et Al HQ in Dorset. Our olives are marinated to original
recipes collected on these very travels, using fresh herbs,
Extra Virgin Olive Oil and only the highest quality olives.

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AND
FINALLY

On your marks, get set...

Raise Funds!

From raffles to running, garden parties to bake offs, S&S pulled out all the stops to
support the local Air Ambulance, our chosen charity for 2016, and other charities

In mid-January 2016, the Salisbury office of
S&S was invited to make up a team to run the
Bath Half Marathon in aid of the Wiltshire Air
Ambulance. Philip Pollard, Derryn Pollard and Jack
Edwards represented the agricultural department and put
forward their names alongside Philip and Derryn’s daughter,
Lucy. For Phillip, Derryn and Jack, this was a new experience.
Lucy was a more experienced runner by comparison and
was already due to run in the Paris Half Marathon at the
beginning of March.

Training hard

Training commenced in late January, around the time Jack Marathon effort: from left, Jack, Derryn, Lucy and Philip
and his wife welcomed their baby daughter into the world.
The combination of the level of tiredness that first-time Race day

parenthood brings, and training for a half marathon did have Sunday 13 March was quickly upon them and, having done a

Jack questioning why he signed up – something he suspects few stretches and taken full advantage of the supply of bananas

Philip was also asking himself as he pounded the streets of in the Wiltshire Air Ambulance tent, the team made their way to
Shaftesbury!
the start line to begin the 13.1 mile run around the city.
The answer, of course, is because the Wiltshire Air
It was at this point that the group split. Derryn and Lucy
‘‘Ambulance is a charity that has
Our grand total was ‘‘ set the pace out front, leaving the boys
been saving lives for more than 25 an astonishing and struggling to keep up. That was the same
years and relies almost entirely onunexpected £4,141.09 for the entire run with Derryn and Lucy
public donations to keep flying. crossing the line in 1hr 56mins and Jack
coming in five minutes behind them.
Training continued and, before Philip crossed the line in 2hrs 37mins
they knew it, they thought nothing which put him at around 10,000 out of

of spending a Sunday morning at

the tail end of winter out in the 15,000 runners.
fresh air putting their new running shoes to good use. The
The sponsorship continued to pour in and their grand total
fundraising had begun and people had been so generous
was an astonishing and unexpected £4,141.09.
that it made those runs much easier. The unprecedented
The team would like to thank everyone who sponsored them;
amount of support they received from clients was
it really is very much appreciated. Knowing that it costs almost
astounding and, having set a fundraising target of £2,000,
£9,000 a day to keep the Wiltshire Air Ambulance flying, they are
they had comfortably surpassed that amount before the

main event. very happy to have contributed to almost half a day’s airfare.

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Ready, Steady… Bake! Real Men Wear Pink

Peter Grout-Smith The Sturminster office went pink for a day for Breast Cancer,
organised one of although for some of the staff this wasn’t too much of a
our most successful change! Alongside this they held an inter-office cake sale and
fundraising events ever raffle raising £60.
at our Poundbury Office
hosting a cake and
coffee morning with a
whopping £450 raised in
a whirlwind two hours
of cake cutting and raffle
ticket selling. Peter refers
to it as a challenge from
The Apprentice!

Robinson’s Raffles

Immy Robinson, To Bake or Not to Bake…
with the support of
a number of local Once again the Wimborne office held their weekly bake off
businesses, organised with one bake from each staff member to be brought in. This
a jam packed hamper year’s theme was Cakespeare, so bakes with a Shakespearean
of wonderful local twist were on the menu. A-J Monro even managed to
gifts and produce incorporate a Land Rover Defender in his bake. A total of £165
to be raffled at each was raised.
of the summer
agricultural shows.
With superb help
from Lucy Nolan and
Ally Hall, ticket sellers
extraordinaire, and
many others, too
many to mention,
raised over £700.

The Marathon Man No Pain, No Gain

Our madcap client, Eric Jeremy Smith did
Sealy decided to run a his part for charity
race each month of his running the Yeovil
60th year leading up to Half in aid of Weldmar
a full marathon in aid Hospicecare. Even
of Alzheimer’s Research after picking up
UK & Macmillan Cancer. a thigh injury he
At the Dorchester Show managed to limp to
Eric gave us a meat the finish line in a
box to raffle. Lydia Cox respectable 2 hours
did a laudable job on a 23 minutes but more
wet and windy day and importantly raised
raised over £200. well over £800.

The Brain Chain Challenge

In December we invited a host of professional firms to battle
it out for our Brain Chain Trophy at our first charity quiz. The
winners were Poundbury Wealth and we managed to raise
over £1,000 in the process.

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What I would save from

Going verboard?

Mark Lewis

A digital radio, I would be totally lost without the BBC; the Craig Charles
funk and soul show on 6 music, ‘I’m sorry I haven’t a clue’, plays and classic
comedies, 5 for the football and 5 live sports extra for Test Match Special.

Steve Allen

My trusty 40-year-old penknife complete with a blade, bottle opener and
can opener.

Simon Clothier

My leather wallet, not for its contents (moths and all) but sentimental
value given to me as a 21st birthday present. It’s worn smooth.

Angela Gillibrand

My fork and spade, bequeathed to me by my paternal grandmother, a
present from her father.  Apart from being perfectly balanced and a joy
to work with, they are imbued with the pleasure and endeavour of many
years passed down the generations.

Richard Taylor

A water filter bottle – not just a fanciful item but an essential accessory.
My filtration bottle claims that the pre-attached filter removes over
99.99% of all microbiological contaminants so it is just as useful closer to
home for London tap water!

Ross Willmington

My glasses and some chocolate if time allows!

Karen Mitchell

My handbag, of course, as we all know women carry everything but the
kitchen sink!

Leah Judd

The locket my grandparents gave me as a gift on my 18th birthday.

Jan Merriott

My guitar, also a convenient flotation device for when everyone gets fed
up with my“Sea Sick”blues.

Andrew Robinson

My auctioneer’s gavel which has seen me sell, livestock, agricultural
machinery, chandlery and boats, the contents of a hotel, but most
importantly penguins, tortoises and flamingos. 

Lester Williams

My two Labradors, Jake and George, who are always by my side at the
helm keeping an eye out for people lost at sea. Last year they spotted two
Welsh divers who were lost for over 4 hours and this year two fishermen
drifting with the tide after their engine failed.

Stuart Philipps

My golf clubs, as bad as I am I would miss playing and the delight of
making just a few good shots.

Anabel Merriman

My Kindle, as I wasn’t quick enough to catch it from going overboard this
summer when given a fright by a large bee off the French coast!

Roger Excell

My corkscrew/bottle opener, how could we survive without it!

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91

Walk on the Wild Side

It’s safari, so good for Charles Matthews and his wife on their African adventure

H ave you ever been on safari? Joy and I had This camp was at Linyanti, Northern Botswana, and on the
our eyes on a trip to Botswana for some years border of the Chobe Reserve. There was a severe drought so
and last November we made it – what an the game was concentrated and suffering badly. Many dead
adventure. lying around and many dying. It was truly the survival of the
‘‘An outdoor roll top bath,
The journey from doorstep to tent filled with cold water, was a‘‘ fittest with the lions killing for fun
took 26 hours including a big plane but, in the process, putting elephants,
to Johannesburg, medium sized to buffalo, giraffe and zebra out of their
Maun, tiny (six-seater) to the bush misery.

strip and a miniscule helicopter (four- great way to escape the heat The photograph shows two lions
seater, no doors) to the bush camp. surrounding a sable antelope which
Welcomed with a traditional African of the afternoon was stuck in the mud. After half-

song and dance, we were then told an-hour tormenting it and keeping

we had 20 minutes to freshen up before setting off for the away from a dangerous pair of horns, they got bored and,

afternoon game drive. amazingly, it pulled itself clear and trotted off.

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That first game drive found us involved with a pack of ‘‘ It had been suggested that we might like to bring some
rather rare African wild dogs out hunting. The speed of their supplies for the local school so, with a Partner’s permission (!),
effortless sweeping through the bush was quite awesome. I raided the stationery cupboard and filled a trusty Symonds &
Sampson bag with pens and pencils.
Our camp was just six tents and unfenced, so care was
needed. We did, however, have an outdoor roll top bath Wina, from the African Bush Camp Foundation which
which, when filled with cold water, was a great way to escape had established the Parakarungu Primary School, happened
the heat of the afternoon. With sunhat, sunglasses and to visit the camp while we were there and was genuinely
binoculars I watched elephant, buffalo and zebra pass by – delighted to receive them.
magical.
From Linyanti we flew to the Okavango Delta itself, which
‘‘We all piled into a Land Cruiser was very different. Green and lush, ample water and game
and off into the night harder to spot.

One night halfway through supper and with ten people Guide to me: “Elephant.”
talking at once, one of the guides said, “be quiet”. A moment Me: “I can’t see it.”
later, a lion roared very close. A few moments later still, two Guide: “I can’t show you anything bigger!”
others roared. “Shall we go and find them?” he said and with
that we all piled into a Land Cruiser and off into the night.

We soon found the resident male, running on his toes,
clearly pumped up and quite frankly awesome. The guide
had been expecting a fight but it seems the two new males
that had come into his territory had been turned back by the
roaring display. As we drove back to camp, I thought how that
beat having the men move two places to the left after the
main course, as sometimes happens at home.

Having done a walking safari, we were keen to use our new
tracking skills so our last two days were spent tracking an
elusive leopard. The guide was convinced she was hunting,
having left her cubs somewhere safe as the path twisted and
turned so often. Two days in the bush, no other person or
vehicle in sight, just the wildlife – wonderful. No we didn’t find
her, so we will have to go back.

Charles Matthews FRICS FAAV
Sturminster 01258 472244 
cmatthews@

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Gillingham
& Shaftesbury

Show

Show Date 2017
16 August

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