King Charles Engages with Rural Community at Historic Clitheroe Auction Mart
King Charles received a warm welcome during a visit to Clitheroe Auction Mart in Lancashire on Monday, where he engaged with local farmers and explored the historic livestock trading facility. The monarch toured the mart on a non-market day, viewing rare breed sheep and cattle brought in by the agricultural community.
Historical Significance and Rural Support Services
Livestock trading in Clitheroe boasts a remarkable history dating back to 1499, with the current market established since 1897 to serve the Ribble Valley and Forest of Bowland regions. During his visit, Charles was shown around the mart's rural business centre, where farmers can access professional services including land agents, financial advisers, and legal support.
The King also spoke with representatives from the Field Nurses charity, which operates drop-in health sessions at auction marts across Lancashire and South Cumbria. This innovative initiative provides basic health checks and mental wellbeing support specifically tailored to rural community members who might otherwise struggle to access healthcare services.
Emotional Connection Through Equine Encounter
In a poignant moment, Charles met Fell pony Pearl in the auction ring, who is related on her sire's side to Emma, the black Fell pony that belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II. Emma gained national attention when she appeared at the monarch's funeral, adorned with the Queen's sheepskin saddle cover and the silk headscarf she traditionally wore while riding.
Pearl was bred by Rossendale farmers Andrew Thorpe, 64, and Michelle Thorpe, 63, who presented the pony as a wedding gift to their nephew Ben Thorpe, 39, when he married his wife Eleanor, 32. Ben Thorpe described the animal as "part of the family, like having a dog," highlighting the deep connections between farming families and their livestock.
Addressing Rural Challenges and Community Support
While unveiling a plaque to commemorate his visit, Charles delivered heartfelt remarks about the importance of the rural sector. "I promise you I know only too well how vital the rural sector and the farming sector is to this country," the King stated, referencing his establishment of the Countryside Fund nearly two decades ago.
He continued: "Having started the Countryside Fund nearly 20 years ago, I hope that is at least contributing to some degree to the welfare and I hope also the adaptability of farmers to the endless complications and challenges you have to meet. For me I do have some appreciation of what you put up with."
Field Nurses founder Richard Schofield explained to Charles how the charity was established ten years ago to address healthcare gaps in rural communities. A team of twelve nurses now visits eight auction marts in the region, plus agricultural shows, providing accessible healthcare without appointments.
"There are farmers that come into the auction and go out with an ambulance," Schofield revealed. "The nurse will pick up a situation and say 'look, I don't want you to go home. I want you to go straight to hospital'. And that has happened on more than one occasion." He emphasized the critical need for such services, noting that "the suicide rate in farming is higher than other professions in the country."
Trustee Roger Dugdale added context about farmer isolation: "A lot of farmers are isolated and work on their own. They haven't time to go to the GP so they just keep going and getting on with it but they all go to the auction mart. It's a social occasion."
Mixed Public Reception and Royal Response
Earlier in the day, Charles experienced a brief interruption when a man shouted "How long have you known about Andrew?" as the King greeted crowds outside Clitheroe train station. The rest of the crowd responded with boos following the question, demonstrating continued public support for the monarch.
Concluding his remarks at the auction mart, Charles expressed gratitude for community institutions: "Thank God is all I can say for marts like this and all the people associated with it like the field nurses and everybody else. So I can only hope you have as successful a coming season as possible, weather permitting, climate change permitting and anything else. It is remarkable how you manage."
The King received a rapturous round of applause from those gathered, acknowledging the resilience and dedication of Britain's farming community in the face of numerous challenges including climate change, economic pressures, and accessibility to essential services.
