held by Nigel Way. The event is also a keen supporter of local charities with donations given each year to organisations such as Devon Air Ambulance and the Hospital League of Friends. On the day of the show Dartmouth’s market square


transforms – the straw is laid, the clean white coats are unfolded and the familiar smells and sounds of farm animals appear. The judging starts early with classes for cattle, sheep and dressed poultry and the farmers battle it out for the badges of Champion and Reserve Champion. The ‘local’ classes include all those farming in the Dartmouth parishes (including Blackawton, Capton, Dittisham) with open classes receiving entries from farms as far as Plympton and Newton Abbot. After the distribution of prizes the auction begins at about 2pm. Bullocks and sheep are offered for sale and traditionally bought by local restaurants and butchers. Dartmouth Fatstock Show is unique locally with its impressive dresssed poultry class with over 100 birds displayed last year. I’m reliably informed by Mr Bond that the class was introduced historically ‘to bring the ladies in’ whilst the menfolk were showing their cattle and sheep. And it is without doubt the perfect place to pick up the best quality Christmas bird. A regular at the show is Dartmouth’s own Jilly


Rowdon. She has attended the local fatstock shows since she was 10 and the rosettes and sashes pinned to her shop window are testament to her success. But Dartmouth is without doubt her favourite and in her opinion the best with its unique atmosphere and location in the centre of town. She’s had a few years off over the years but she’ll be back this year with her Texel Charolais sheep. So if you want to see a unique part of our Dartmouth


community and history pop into the market on the 13th December and admire the neatly clipped sheep and beautiful South Devon cows (my personal favourite). It’s a unique opportunity to feel a sense of pride in our local families, farmers and produce and no better way of buying local. For further information on the Dartmouth Fatstock show contact Michael Pedrick, Tel: 01803 863888.


Photos reproduced with kind permission of Jilly Rowdon, Lionel Bond, Kim Fricker, Michael Pedrickw and Dartmouth Muse- um.


Jilly at 18 proudly showing Charlie - a Charolais/Friesian cross.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140