Having kept a few Southdown fleeces back from last summer’s shearing, I was wondering what to do with them.

When I was a teenager which is now 50 years ago, my parents had a rather chaotic go at “The Good Life” on 20 acres in West Kent.

Article by Patrick Goldsworthy MBE, Webb Ellis and Heritage Flocks

We were all shocked and saddened by the news that our good friend and member Ben Slack had passed away in hospital on 26th February 2025.

Southdown breeders witnessed history being made at the Platinum Celebration Sale from Jonathan Long and family’s Chaileybrook flock of Southdowns at Worcester on Saturday 7th December.

The text books advise that sheep gestation is 147 days, sadly sheep don’t read text books. With my flocks, and my system the mean gestation every year is 145 days. Very few reach the 147 day mark, and the latest I have recorded was 153 days, tho’ I cannot totally warranty her tupping date.

Thanks to the generosity of members and the efforts of Council to secure breed history, three new trophies have been awarded for the first time this year.

The 2023-2024 season has been an outstanding year for Southdown Young Breeders, with their dedication to the breed reflected in numerous successes across prominent shows and sales.

It may be that some of the Society’s members ask why we are not just a simple private club, but a Company, a Charity and a Defra Recognised Breed Society?

Southdown member George Anstie has had considerable success not just in the show ring, but also on the sheep lines where he goes to great lengths to educate the public, often winning the ‘Best Pen’ competitions.