Show that is a family affair for the Dales

Frank Dale was born a stone’s catapult from the showground, turns 80 in October and still runs a flock of Blackface sheep at Low Moor Plantation Farm with his wife Lorna.

And while he may not have a great deal in common with his fellow octogenarians Frank has shown sheep at Egton nearly as long as Bill Roache has played Ken Barlow in Coronation Street.

“We took over Cooper’s Farm where I grew up, along with the land here, from my father in 1960 and attended our first show as competitors the following year. We’ve had the same strain of Blackface stretching as far back as 1952.

“There have been a lot of changes in my lifetime. We had Clydesdales on the farm before tractors came along; we changed from having Dairy Shorthorns to Friesians before coming out of milking in 1980. We had around 30 cows at the time. But the main change was that there were far more people around to do jobs like haymaking. In those days everyone from other farms would help each other and lend a hand and no money would change hands for it. That was when farming was a real pleasure.”

Frank and Lorna have had their fair share of rosettes and trophies at Egton Show and a number of other North York Moors shows in their 51-year sheep-showing career. They have kept many of their place cards from the 60s too.

“We used to compete at around ten shows a year at one time, including the Great Yorkshire Show and Ryedale, as well as all of the shows around here including Farndale, Rosedale, Bilsdale, Danby, Sneaton & Hawsker, and even Whitby Show when that was on the go. We’ve usually done quite well but you get years when it goes a bit slack and you don’t have the quality. Last year was a good one for us at Egton as we gained the most points in the breed class overall. The Blackfaces are as well supported at Egton as they are anywhere in the area.”

Although Frank talks of having retired from real farming 15 years ago the truth is that, like many other elderly farmers, he has never really let go. Lorna is quick to tell him they are still farming properly rather than hobby farming and Frank doesn’t see himself ever quitting completely.

“We’re trying to keep the ground right. We have never used fertiliser and still have 88 acres. We lambed 65 ewes this year. They’re not all pure Blackfaces though. The Texel X have crept in. Everyone keeps crossing sheep these days and the Blackfaces have lost ground to the Swaledales over the years.”

Egton Horse & Agricultural Show, to give the event its full title, has been a family affair for the Dales for over a century and Frank is delighted to be president although he shows his emotion in that understated way that only a Yorkshire farmer can manage.

“I’m sure I will enjoy the day. My father and grandfather used to go around collecting entries and agricultural society subscriptions. The show has grown out of all recognition since then and now attracts over 9,000. I remember when they held the show to raise funds for the Red Cross 70 years ago during wartime.

“It’s still very much an agricultural show but with more ponies than there used to be. Because the show is so close to Whitby it also attracts a lot of holidaymakers and they need to be kept interested with other attractions. Thornton-le-Dale Show seems to have done well with that kind of thing and this year we have the Scarborough & District Motocross Club giving demonstrations.”

Frank and Lorna understand that tourists need looking after as they ran their own seaside enterprise for 11 years when they had the Harbour Diner café next to Whitby Pier in the 90s.

Whilst Frank and Sonny, his faithful sheepdog, went to work rounding up Blackfaces ready for next week’s show Frank told of how he will manage both showing his sheep and fulfilling his obligations as president on Wednesday.

“We’ve not entered too many this year. My son Graham and grand-daughter Megan will be showing them though, not me. They do more of that than I do anyway. That should mean I can be available to do what I have to.”

In fact, Frank has rarely shown the sheep himself throughout the years as the photograph shown here taken at Stokesley Show in 1961 bears witness. In this picture you can see Frank walking along to the left of the group as though he is taking an interest in proceedings, with Lorna and her father Walter Ward, far right, showing a pair of his Blackfaces.

Frank has a natural allegiance to the show and its characters, of which it has many. His favourite is a man who has even more years experience than him.

“Mr Dudridge, Mick, is the main man. He has been announcing at the show ever since I have been going and he’s now over 90 years old. That must make him the most elderly announcer in the agricultural show world. But there are many more who deserve a mention such as Harvey Walby who organises the jumping competitions and chairman Nick Gallon who works tirelessly.”

Three staging their big day

Egton Show is the only midweek show in the coming week, but there are three agricultural shows next Saturday.

Malhamdale Show is held near to Malham Cove and is another show that has grown in stature. Bilsdale Show, situated near Chop Gate, between Helmsley and Stokesley, is one of those small, traditional Moors shows and Wensleydale Show at Leyburn will be inching closer to its centenary year with its 98th show.