Fatstock is on again in Uppingham today. The annual famers’ Christmas show has a long and proud heritage, dating back over 130 years. This year, however, there are noticeably fewer sheep and pigs on show. Rutland and Stamford Sound ask why….
There are mixed fortunes and feelings at at this year’s Uppingham Christmas Fatstock Show. The tradition, which first started in 1889, is thought to be the oldest continually running marketplace show with tempororary pens anywhere in the country. Today farmers will sit down in the largest number at the Falcon Hotel after a busy morning in the town with their animals.
Entries, though are mixed this year and it could be the rising cost of living or food prices that have had an effect. Chairman of the Fatstock committee Charlie Mason says that it could be down to animal feed prices or just that summer sales of the animals were very good. Despite this, however. He says there will be plenty for locals to see:
“The sheep numbers are down, and the pig numbers are down quite alarmingly,” says Charlie, “but we’ve got a very, very good entry of cattle again….and it is the cattle that are really the centrepiece of the show!”
Fatstock is on this morning in Uppingham town square.
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