GETTING AHEAD AT WOOD CLOSE
Hats and cows make for an interesting combination at Wood Close Farm, Skelton, as Katie Davidson found out
A
desire to keep her own interests at the same time as being around the farm to help when needed has seen Bev Bargh develop a successful hat sales and hire business over the last 10 years since the Bargh family moved from Morecambe, Lancashire, to Skelton, Cumbria 15 years ago. For Bev, one of the key drivers to establishing the new business was to meet new people while keeping close ties to the farm and her family. The business, which is run out of a converted farm building, allows Bev to achieve both of these objectives as well as get some much needed “girly time” away from the farm. “As much as running the hat business is a great sideline for me, the advantage of running the business from home means I can still help on the farm between appointments.” Prior to the business launch, close friend Sarah Rhodes who runs the head offi ce for Get Ahead Hats – a Farmers Wives Co-operative,
established 28 years ago and now has 17 agents across the country – suggested Bev should give it a go. Now the business stocks 300 hats, perchers, jewellery, accessories and caters for everyone. It’s also formed a strong part of the whole wedding planning experience in the local area. “Our clientele come from Gretna to Kendal, Alston to West Cumbria and even ladies from as far afi eld as Scotland, looking to purchase or hire hats and accessories for all manner of events including race days, Royal garden parties and weddings,” she explains. “We work closely with some of the best milliners in the country to create high quality, bespoke hats.” The hire service allows ladies to wear quality, designer hats priced from £45, a fraction of the price of buying them. With 4500 hats
26 THE JOURNAL OCTOBER 2014
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MOOANDBAA
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