Meet the men at the marts!

Marts’ team: from left, John Stephenson, Maurice Scott and Peter Pratt

Making up the team at Kirkby Stephen, Lazonby, Middleton-in-Teesdale and St John's Chapel are John Stephenson, Maurice Scott, Peter Pratt and Richard Hodgson.

John Stephenson is yard manager and fieldsman at Middleton in Teesdale. His family have used the mart for years and his brother Carl is the company's vice-chairman. John this year took over the role of secretary of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association.

Fieldsman and auctioneer Maurice Scott began working at Middleton mart when he was in his teens and now sells at all four centres while also running the yard at St John's Chapel.

Richard Hodgson

Peter Pratt's working association with Kirkby Stephen mart goes back more than 40 years with both full time and part time employment. He is the mart's yardman.

Yardman at Lazonby is Richard Hodgson who has had a long-standing association with the mart.