It was some twelve years ago when I bought my first batch of weaners from market. These were bought for fathering purposes, but I became captivated by their endearing manner and decided to buy a couple of Large Black sows and a boar in order to help protect this rare breed. One of the sows I purchased was, in fact, one of only four remaining in the U.K. at that time, from the 'Jewel Line'.

I thoroughly enjoyed keeping these pigs and they also proved to be therapeutic for the residents living in our homes (our other business is residential care for adults who have a learning disability).

Soon after, I decided to venture into a second breed and after visiting the Rare Breed Show & Sale at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, I came home with my first Gloucestershire Old Spot gilt.

I found a boar to serve my new gilt quite locally in Herefordshire, and it was here that my interest in showing pigs was inspired! Just a few months after purchasing another couple of Gloucester Old Spots, we arrived on the showing circuit.

We were ecstatic to win our first Rosette & by the end of the show we had most definitely been bitten by the bug