THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE - Sheep Are Off The Menu

16th August 2003.

Valerie

Was very pleased to receive visit yesterday evening from Ian Ticehurst, Chairman of the Sheep Fair Sub-Committee of the Parish Council.

My comments about this Sub-Committee being a bit of a joke in an earlier communication might possibly have touched a nerve but all credit to Ian for acting decisively and, if you'll excuse a related pun 'taking the bull by the horns'. This type of direct communication with village residents is what many have been asking for over the last couple of years and it's well overdue. Let's have more of it.

Anyway, that said, Ian left with me some 70 odd pages of bumph which seem to have emanated from that worthy Government Department DEFRA. Essentially they are guidance notes for those 'Organisers of Shows or Exhibitions including sales (if any) of animals on sites where parts of the premises to which animals have access cannot be cleansed and disinfected'.

The buzz word now is apparently Biosecurity. As the document admits this is anew word but not a new concept. It literally means 'safe life'. Organisers of events now have to compile a Standard Operating Plan in order to apply for a licence. The measures required by this licence complement other legislation such as:

The Disease Control (Interim Measures) Order 2002

Identification of Animals Orders

The Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection) Order 2000

The Tuberculosis (England and Wales) Order 1984

The Brucellosis (England) Order 2000

The Welfare of Animals at Market Order 1990

So you begin to see the problem here. To complete the Standard Operating Plan you are advised to use the following templates:

Biosecurity Operating Plan Template - 34 elements to be considered

Disease Management (Contingency) Plan Template

Veterinary Checklist

And so it goes on - Transport, Disinfection, Handling of Animals, Parking of Vehicles, Attendance of Officials, Uncle Tom Cobbley and all. A long, long way from the simplicity of the days when shepherds brought their sheep over dusty tracks, everyone got pissed, village life and relationships were strengthened and everyone had a jolly good time.

The threat of Foot and Mouth should, of course, not be underestimated, and precautions are worthy but you can't help but feel this is another example of over-reaction from a Government devoted to knee-jerks. You can, however, appreciate how compliance with all this regulation, and the not inconsiderable drain on local resources, makes the attendance of sheep at the Sheep Fair not only out this year but presumably unlikely in the future.

Thanks, Ian, for taking the trouble to set out the problems. Those that would like to obtain a medium far more effective in treating insomnia that counting sheep can get copies of the full document from Ian.

Derek Dainton

Derek Dainton, Nepcote, Findon, West Sussex.

17th August 2003.

Dear Valerie and all concerned about Findon Sheep Fair,

PLEASE do not give up on us yet!

I moved to Findon in 1990 from a farm in Hampshire to be the farm foreman for Mr & Mrs Wyatt at Cissbury Farm in Findon.

My first introduction to the sheep fair was transporting the wooden hurdles (better known as wattles) from the wattle house and from a barn on Cissbury Farm and placing them in various spots around Nepcote Green to build the pens for the sale. This usually took place on the Tuesday or Wednesday before the event. Also, watching Harris's arrive and set up the fair ground, and on the day walking sheep up to the green, sorting and penning them for the sale.

In those days, there would be around 9,000 sheep at the fair (far fewer than in its heyday). We would listen to the lorries transporting sheep up to the green as early as 4.30 in the morning thinking how marvellous to have such an event on our doorstep!

However, times change and so has British farming. You no longer see field after field with herds of milking cows and grazing sheep in, more's the pity. Sadly, more and more produce is imported these days and far fewer people are employed in British agriculture. Even I no longer work in agriculture. Unfortunately, these factors and "Foot and Mouth" have contributed to the decline of the sheep fair in

its original form.

But why should we lose our sheep fair?

Seeing the decline, I decided that something must be done to stop this important part of our village's heritage disappearing altogether. So that is why we have the Sheep Fair Commitee with the support of Findon Parish Council !!!!

OK so it is known as the "Sheep Fair and Village Festival" these days and maybe at the moment there are no sheep! But at least we are keeping things alive the best we can and keeping the day special. And who knows, maybe one day the sheep may come back.

The Sheep Fair is very important to this village and we will continue to look at every possibility to return it to its former glory - sheep and all !

So, please think positively and don't give up on us.

Finally,I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the committee members for all their hard work in producing a great village event.

Cllr Ian Ticehurst

Chairman of the Sheep Fair Committee