6 The Chronicle, Thursday, 31st March, 2011. www.chronicleseries.co.uk

Markets

Chelford

CALVES (196): 141 bulls averaged £98.31 (72 Black and Whites); 55 heifers £118.95.

A smart Blue topped at £290 from Messrs Venables. A Simmental was a bid behind selling to £285.

In the weanlings, Blues topped at £302.

Bulls: Holstein x (42): (£38.38) to £112; Friesian (28): (£26.64) to £210; Hereford (11): (£124.73) to £210; Charolais x (1): to £135; Simmental x (19): (£200.32) to £285 (Biddulph); Limousin x (6): (£176.17) to £255 (Sproston); Blonde x (2): (£93) to £136 (Chelford); British Blue (12): (£239.50) to £302; Jersey (2): (£17) to £26 (Siddington); Shorthorn (3): (£58) to £72; Aberdeen Angus (12): (£137.50) to £205; Sussex x (1): to £110 (Medhurst Green); Brown Swiss (2): (£53) to £70.

Heifers: Holstein x (2): (£58) to £100 (Cranage); Hereford (8): (£61.38) to £118 (Allostock); Simmental x (16): (£142.38) to £225 (Rushton); Limousin x (6): (£97.67) to £225 (Sproston); Blonde x (1): to £200 (Chelford).

HEADS OF POULTRY (732): hatching eggs for both poultry and waterfowl were in plentiful supply with call duck eggs fetching the best price of £16-17 per dozen with other duck eggs achieving £14. Goose eggs achieved up to £1.10 per egg.

Prices for poultry pullets were generally up with some pretty bantam garden hens fetching £19. Rhode Island Red and Buff Orpingtons £16, Vorwerks and Polish £15, New Hampshire Reds and French Copper Blacks £13. Good quality vaccinated point of lay pullets achieved £7.

Other best prices included a Toulouse gander at £30, a stag turkey £23; Reeves pheasants £25; Chinese geese £18; and Ebden geese £14.

STORE AND BREEDING CATTLE: the spring sale of breeding bulls saw a smart selection of breeding bulls put forward for the first spring sale, on the whole, well received by a packed ringside of prospective purchasers.

Bulls that were fit to go on and work immediately were in strong demand. The leading price went to a powerful Simmental

LEEK CATTLE MARKET

The only Livestock Market in Staffordshire

EVERY TUESDAY

Selling times as follows:

Calves (Simmental Bulls £332) ............................................................. 9.30 a.m. Tested Barren Cattle (155p/kg.) ............................................................. 9.30 a.m. Clean Cattle (170p/kg.) ........................................................................ 10.30 a.m. Butchers’ Lambs followed by Ewes (Lambs 234p/kg., Ewes £148) ............................................................. 11.00 a.m. Dairy (Heifer £1,900) ........................................................................... 11.00 a.m. Stores (Belgian Blue Bulls £660) ........................................................ 11.30 a.m.

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STORE CATTLE SECTION

SATURDAY, 9th APRIL, 2011

Store and Suckler Cattle Sale to Commence at 10 a.m.

Catalogued Sale of Mainly Continental Bred Suckler Cows, Some with Calves at Foot,

Young Bulls and Store Cattle Entries Close - 1st April, 2011 Next Sale - Saturday, 30th April, 2011

Entries Close - 21st April, 2011

POULTRY & SMALL STOCK SALES

SATURDAY, 2nd APRIL, 2011 Sale To Commence at 9.30 a.m. Usual Sale of Poultry, Caged Birds, Small Stock, Eggs G. L. Watkins - 07976 370894. B. Daniel - 07768 368686 Mark Elliott - 07973 673092. Meg Elliott - 07967 007049 C4749h

Graham Watkins & Co. Chartered Surveyors, Estate Agents, Auctioneers & Valuers

FORTHCOMING DISPERSAL SALES

On behalf of E. & C. Mear Friday, 8th April, 2011 Grove Garage, Cellarhead, Stoke-on-Trent

Complete Genuine Dispersal Sale to Include Commercial Vehicles Inc: Three Deck Williams Sheep Body on Mercedes 2535 Wagon, 2000 Mercedes 2543 Tractor Unit, 1996 Man 7.5

ton Wagon with 16´ Cattle Box, etc.

Tractors and Machines Inc: Zetor Crystal 4WD 8045 with Front End Loader, International Tractor, Nuffield 10/60 Tractor, JCB Excavator. Trailers and Cattle Boxes Inc: 2 x Millmore Tri-Axle Two Deck Cow Trailers, Parkhouse Two Cow Body on Tasker Trailer, Worcester Two Deck Tri-Axle Cow Trailer, Parry Overlander Two Dec Tri-Axle Cow Trailer, 40´ Tri-Axle Doughty Trailer, 24´ York Draw Bar Trailer, 24´ Williams Single Deck Cattle Box with Sheep Decks and Hydraulic

Ramp, 10´ Flat Trailer, etc.

Range of Sundry Workshop Tools, Wagon and Trailer Spares including Filters, Lights, etc. Three Phase Welder, 25 ton Hydraulic Press, Various

Gates, Cattle Partitions, etc.

Sale to commence at 11am, Catalogues Available

Graham Watkins & Co., 69, Derby Street, Leek, ST13 6JL

Tel: 01538 373308. Fax: 01538 399653 Email: info@grahamwatkins.co.uk Website: www.grahamwatkins.co.uk

C4771h ready for work, he sold at 2180gns (£2,289).

A pure bred but unregistered Simmental from local suckler producers Messrs Massey, of Marton took the next highest call of 1,620gns to Cheshire Dairy producer D Colclough, of Hassall.

Leading the native classes was a brace of smart Herefords. The pick of the pair made 1,520gns (£1,596) to Messrs Witter, of Wheelock, and his stable-mate. 1,450gns.

In the dairy and beef breeding cattle, suckler cow and calf outfits got away reasonably well with the leading price £825 for Angus x cows with a Limousin bull calf at foot.

Other notable returns of £765 and £720 were paid for similar outfits with Charolais x calves. Correct Friesian heifer calves made up to £205 for Messrs Whittaker, of Elton.

The 194 store cattle saw forward cattle few and far between and sold accordingly with a brace of Blue steers at £1,000 apiece.

Good strong steers all came close at £980, £900 and £860 and leading the native breeds was an Angus at £845.

Heifers at £835. Plenty of forward heifers in the mid-high £700s including Angus x at £780.

Best bulls of note were Limousin x at £650.

PIGS (219): the five cull sows and boars saw a small entry meet a similar trade with best sows to 50p. Three boars to 42p (33.69p); two sows to 50p (49.96p).

BUTCHERS’ PIGS (92): met a slightly better demand for best sorts.

Three porkers to 106p (106p); 26 cutters to 110p (94.85p); 48 baconers to 122p (97.75p); overweight (15): to 92p (78.05p); 92 overall (93.25p).

The 120 store and breeding pigs saw the best shaped pigs on offer meet a good trade.

Prices: £55 at 85kg; £53 at 44kg; £35 at 45kg; £33 at 58kg; £21 (Pietrain) at 12kg; £11 (Saddleback) at 15kg.

In the breeding section, a sow and eight Pietrain x piglets realised £305 and in-pig sows sold to £172.

STORE AND BREEDING SHEEP (97): only a small entry with ewes and rams less money at around £50 per life. Store hoggs on offer selling to £81 (over 200p/kg).

LOADS OF FARM PRODUCE (43): an excellent entry of 43 loads for the third Monday in March. There were still plenty of purchasers looking for feed stuffs and straw and vendors responding well to that demand. Small bale hay topped at £195 per tonne for two loads with big bale hay also in keen demand at up to £190 per tonne for a small 2½-ton load with £140 to £155 for bigger lorry loads.

Horse quality haylage was keenly sought at up to £135 with another load at £130 and several between £100 and £120.

At the other end of the scale, loose silage made £38 and wrapped silage £40 to £55.

Barley straw maintained recent high prices at £85 to £102, depending on load size with wheat straw, if anything, slightly easier than last week, but still £68 to £75.

EGGS (1,950 DOZEN): a few more hen eggs met a similar demand.

Prices: free range: extra large £1.20; large 70p; medium 72p; small 48p; barn: extra large 90p; large 78p; medium 72p; small 40p; 178 dozen duck £1-£160 (£1.30); 108 goose eggs to £120 (£1.01).

POTATES AND STOCK FEED (1,034 BAGS): Prices: Nadine £4; piper £3.50; Wilja £4.75; Fambo £3.50; Victoria £4; stock feed carrots £1.30 ha £6

straw £2; barley grain £4.

PACKAGES

OF

VEGETABLES (679): Prices: lettuce: Gatwick £4.75; flat £3; onions x 25kg £8; 12.5kg £6.75; rope £1.50; red x 12.5kg £5.50; swede x 12.5kg £3; leek x 5kg £3.75; dirty carrots x 12.5kg £4.25; washed x 5kg £1.50; parsnip x 5kg £1.50; cabbage Jan King x 6 £3.25; Savoy x 6 £3.25; spring x 10 £3; beetroot x 12.5kg £2; rhubarb x 12lb £8.50.

CULL COWS, BULLS AND OTM CATTLE (129): 85 Black and White cows from £338.80 to £1,104.48 (£649.35). Top price Holstein £1,104.48; top price Friesian £971.52.

Cows: British Blue x 810kg 186p or £1,506.60; Limousin x 796kg 144p or £1,146.24; British Blue x 708kg 159p or £1,125.72; Limousin 698kg 160p or £1,116.80; Holstein x 936kg 118p or £1,104.48; Simmental x 778kg 139p or £1,081.42; Sussex x 916kg 116p or £1,062.56; Holstein x 842kg 124p or £1,044.08; Holstein 792kg 127p or £1,005.84; Shorthorn 792kg 127p £1,005.84.

Bulls: Limousin x 1,008kg 149p or £1,501.92; Simmental x 1,064kg 126p or £1,340.64; Simmental x 912kg 129p or £1,176.48; Shorthorn 966kg 117p or £1,130.32; Holstein x 870kg £1,096.20.

Cull cows: Holstein x (71): (104.09p) to 134p; Friesian (14): (102.27) to 132p.

BUTCHERS’SHEEP(1,092): the 930 butchers’ lambs sold to 255p for 45.6kg Texel crosses from R and S Bailey, Rushton Spencer (204.4p).

The Baileys again led the trade with another terrific run of quality Continental cross lambs, but several other vendors saw their lambs make well in access of 220p.

A lot of heavy mules on show with 48-55kg mostly 175-190p.

The 162 cull ewes and rams saw an overall average of £88.09 with Charollais crosses to £135; Texel crosses to £130 (twice) £129, £126 etc; mules to £114, £110 etc; Down rams to £125; Rouge rams to £98 etc.

Terrific trade again, with all big strong ewes in excess of £120, with plainer types again looking the dearest at £80-£100.

BUTCHERS’ CATTLE (73): tremendous trade throughout on a shorter supply of cattle, to average some 10p above the previous week.

The superb Limousin cross heifers, from Messrs Moseley and from Reg Beard respectively made to 201p and 200p to lead the day’s trade, with a real shortage of these handy weight “plum” heifers.

No top quality steers in, but strong trade for all on offer to 160p for a Blue cross.

If anything, trade for bulls was faster than in recent weeks. Blondes seem to have more fun, they say, well three superb Blondes crosses, two from David Venables, were eagerly chased by several buyers to 195p, 193p and 192p.

Prices: steers to 160p (146.7p); heifers to 201p (151.5p); bulls to 195p (147.1p); overall average 148.05p.

Leek

Plenty of dairy farmers taking an opportunity of shedding a few plain cows while the trade for barrens is up in the sky.

The week’s entry averaged just 1.5p behind that of the previous week, although the quality of cows was far less. As of late the plainer cows seem to be the better trade, grade two sorts (in need of finishing) to 114p and grade three (plain Holstein cows) to 102.5p. One good spin-off from the improved barren trade is the increase in demand for fat cattle, with 15 young bulls included in the entry, which sold to 156p, but more importantly averaged 126p for Holstein types. Lambs were just a smidge under the £2, returning an average of 199.15p.

For the past two weeks the local NFU has been attending the market to drum up support for a badger cull in the area. Anyone who would like to participate should call Leek or Cheadle NFU.

CLEAN CATTLE (30): a much-improved trade, although the choice for family butchers was somewhat limited. Medium steers 142p for a prime Charolais with commercial stock to 131p. Heavy steers topped 170p for a premium Blonde, with prime Belgians to 140.5p and Friesians to 138p. Commercial cattle to 122p. Heifers were all in the heavy bracket topping 169p for a prime Limousin from Eric Mitchell who sold Charolais to 167p, with commercial Angus to 141p. Bulls saw lightweights to 136.5p for a smart Ayrshire with medium weights to 156p for a Friesian Bull, and another at 149p. South Devons to 148.5p. Heavy bulls to 130p. Top price steer £1,147.50; bull £754; heifer £1,060.45. Quality prices, steers: premium 170p; prime 142p (138p); commercial 127p (125p); heifers: prime 169p (158p); bulls: prime 156p (149p); commercial 136.5p (122p).

OVER 30-MONTH STOCK (84): best quality finished cows sold to 155p for Limousins with Charolais to 140p. Strong Simmentals cows to 134p with Friesians to 130p per kg, fattened, and Belgian Blue to 125.5p. Friesians straight from the parlour to 124.5p. Average for grade one cows 121p; grade two cows to 114p (103p); grade three cows to 102.5p (86p); overage clean to 170p for a Belgian with Limousins to 139p. Average in the lump £703 (108.27p).

DAIRIES (36): 36 milkers forward after a very busy pedigree sale the previous week met another swift trade that reflected the good quality on offer. Trade peaked at £1,900 for a Picston Shottle daughter from regular vendor David Higgott, of Northants. Sold giving 33kg she went to Mr J Fernyhough, of Swythamley. Close behind at £1,890 was a Cook-Farm Detective daughter from Messrs Gregory, of Litton, who went to the same home. The first heifer in the ring reached £1,880 from Andrew Mills, of Ratcliffe on Wreake, Leicestershire. She went to Mr J Holdcroft, of Sandbach. Trade was particularly good for cows with a quality consignment o five second to fourth calvers from Messrs Wain, of Siddington, peaking at £1,670 and averaging £1,558 straight through. Q1 heifers to £1,900 (£1,812); Q2 heifers to £1,650 (£1,582); Q2 cows to £1,620 (£1,513).

STORE CATTLE (25): steers were all lightweights topping £230 for 12-month-old Friesians. Heifers saw Limousins, 15 months old, to £490 with quality store bulls, 13 months old, to £660 fo Belgians and £585 for Limousins.

BUTCHERS’ LAMBS (260): standardweights topped 232p (201p); medium weights at 234p. Heavy lambs to 223p (194p); overweights to 220p. Top priced overweight lambs at £125.28. Market average: £199.15. Quality prices, lambs: prime 234p (202p); commercial 175p (173p).

CULL SHEEP (104): a fast trade producing ewes to £148, £138 and £135 to return an average of £77.46. Rams to £104 (£90).

EWESAND LAMBS (64): top price £160 for doubles with singles to £100 per couple. Average a whisker under £130.

CALVES (93): no let-up in demand for the next generation o butchers’ cattle, seeing bull calves to £332 for a Simmental, with nine averaging £248. Blues £292 (£213); Limousins £278 (£182); Herefords £170. Angus to £152. Friesians £70 (£38). Heifers saw Limousins to £214 (£173); Simmentals to £210 (£161); Blues £182 (£164). Blondes to £172. Herefords to £140. Angus to £128.

PRODUCE: four loads on offer, haylage to £21, average £18 per bale.

Planting season blossoms

Auctioneer Jonathan Farrall selling some of the thousands o shrubs at the horticultural sale.

Beautiful weather turned the minds of most householders to their gardens, and brought prospective purchasers out in force to Frank Marshall and Company’s weekly horticultural sale at Chelford Market last Wednesday.

The sales, the largest horticultural sale by auction in the UK, are held every Wednesday and again on Thursday evenings, and attract a massive range of garden shrubs, ornamental trees, conifers beddin lants ot lants cut flowers, as well as a huge array of fresh vegetables, potatoes, eggs etc and a large collection of garden sundries, lawn mowers, tools etc.

The sales held in the livestoc buildings and in other purpose built buildings, show the diversity of Chelford Market, one o the largest auction centres in the UK. The car park was nearly full last Wednesday, for the first time this spring, indicating the arrival of the planting season.

(Submitted photograph). Charity busker’s next gig could be at Brazil eco-fest

The Chronicle, Thursday, 31st March, 2011. www.chronicleseries.co.uk 7

Mossley Village Hall plan makes a good impression

By Katie Ollier A local singer is being considered to play at this year’s Earthday Brasil festival in Rio de Janeiro.

Sheena Bratt, (31), from Smallwood, will find out in the coming weeks whether she will have the opportunity to perform at the festival, which is expected to be staged in the autumn.

Mrs Bratt was approached by a festival contact, who “liked” her songs and wall posts on Facebook.

This prompted the singer to send him a message,

thanking him for his interest. He then recommended to Earthday Brasil organisers that she performs at the festival.

Mrs Bratt said: “It’s really exciting to think I might be playing in Brazil.

“All my life I’ve been singing and performing — I started out busking for charity.”

Her performance and song writing days began at primary school and she has busked, gigged and recorded solo and in bands at home and abroad.

Mrs Bratt has worked as a primary school teacher in Cheshire and Staffordshire — the last place she worked at was Haslington Primary School as a full-time supply teacher.

She studied law and philosophy at Keele University and completed a post-graduate certificate in education with modern foreign languages at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Crewe campus before travelling to Thailand to teach all ages.

The singer/songwriter’s music is described as folk/country/blues/ indie/pop but she says she is of no set genre. Mrs Bratt mostly plays guitar but has experimented with many instruments in the past.

She has recorded a four-track CD, live album and individual tracks with many people, including DJs and producers Hemstock&Jennings, who she also sang live for at dance venue Foundation in Newcastle-uponTyne.

Mrs Bratt is due to be working with DJ and producer Rockin’ Russ from the music label Rocked who are “putting Stoke back on the dance scene map”, according to Radio 1 DJ Kutski.

The singer will appear at Bar 360 Hanley on 9th April, when

Rockin’ Russ and DJ Kutski are DJ-ing.

She said: “I’m hoping to perform with Rockin’ Russ that night, and that the single ‘In Spirit’, which I feature on, is out by then.”

The Earthday Brasil festival aims to raise awareness of caring for the planet, eliminating pollution, ending war, working together and creating peace.

Organisers are anticipating an attendance of up to 650,000 festival-goers over three days. There will be musical performers, environmental speakers and aboriginal speakers appearing onstage.

On its website, Earthday Brasil states its aim is to “bring about awareness of the problems we face as a global human race”, and awareness of the environments, rainforests, human and animal abuse.

The date and venue of Earthday Brasil will be announced soon.

Faulty elevator meant residents used stairlifts

Elderly people living at a Congleton residential home had to use stairlifts to access higher floors after the building’s lift roke down last week.

The lift at the recently opened Heath View on Heath Road had een faulty for some time. Dane Housing was forced to order a new part from the Continent and temporarily shut it down last week.

Because some of the elderly residents were unable to walk up and down the stairs, certain events at the home were moved to different floors, and stairlifts were used to move less abled residents around the building.

The lift was fixed over the weekend.

A spokesman for Dane Housing apologised for the inconvenience caused to any residents.

Take a walk in the moonlight for St John Ambulance

Families are invited to pull on their wellies and light up their torches to take part in a moonlight walk on Saturday, 9th April.

The nighttime walk takes a circular route through the grounds of Stafford Castle and is raising funds for St John Ambulance.

Amanda Danells-Smith, county fund-raiser for St John Ambulance, said: “The Moonlight Walk is all about having fun; getting more families out and about while helping to raise money for the charity. Walking around the castle, in the dark, is going to be quite a challenge!”

Walkers will be welcomed from 7pm for registration at Castlechurch Hall, Stafford. There will be fun and games until 8pm when the walk sets off. Families are invited to pre-register for the walk which costs just £3 per person by calling the fund-raising team on 01785 257124.

An artist’s impression of the extension. Plans for an extension to Mossley Village Hall are reported to have impressed local people support and other groups, talks on health and similar issues.

It is also hoped to set up a Wii facility for young and old to use.

Project chairman Paul Dentith said: “The response to the proposed community centre at Mossley Village Hall has been extremely positive.”

The community room above the café, accessible by stairs and lift, would have a large plasma screen suitable for films and presentations.

“We’ve been delighted by the response. Everyone so far has agreed this will be of great benefit to Mossley.

“They’re looking forward to enjoying a cup of coffee and lunch with their friends. This is just what the community needs.

The Leek Road centre will be available for community activities such as parenting classes,

Mr Dentith said he hoped local people would become involved in running the café and centre.

Plans, submitted to Cheshire East Council for approval, are on view at the hall on Saturday, 9th April, between 9am and 3pm.

Organisers will be there to answer queries and explain how the centre will be used.

(Submitted photograph).