’He just says ’Yes’. He’s the sort of guy that if I ask him to cover a shearing course for me at very short notice, he will just say ’Yes,’ and then worry about how he’ll manage to do it after.’
This was just some of what Colin MacGregor, Shearing Training Manager at the British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB), had to say about Richard Schofield, winner of 2011’s Shearing Personality of the Year award.
Richard, a 49 year old shearing instructor and roofing contractor from Skipton, North Yorkshire, was presented with the prestigious award last week at the British Isles Shearing Competition Association (BISCA) AGM.
’This person has been known to me for twenty years,’ Colin said as he made the presentation. ’This person stands out amongst shearing instructors and also has great respect from the shearing fraternity. He can’t sit still. He always puts himself out for people.’
As he received his prize, a cut-glass decanter, engraved and sponsored by Lister Shearing, Richard seemed pleasantly surprised and even a little mystified.
’Firstly, I’d like to apologise to the ladies present,’ he said in his acceptance speech, ’my first word was an expletive! I was taken by surprise.
’Colin asked me to attend this meeting because he said I might learn something ’ he got me here on false pretences! Thank you very much indeed.’
Richard recommends that young shearers keep attending BWMB training courses. ’It’s a must,’ he says, ’The people who do the instructing ’ they’ve been there, they’ve done it. Any young shearer who’s keen to get started in the industry should get on a course, and keep in touch with their instructor.’
Doing charitable work as a Rotarian and trustee of an organisation called Crossroads is another important part of Richard’s life. Rotary dinners and events encompass a large part of his social activities. His main hobby is his flock of 160 sheep, but he also enjoys walking and used to play basketball.
’A lot of my work is my hobby too,’ he says, ’you know, my building and roofing.’
The pride he takes in his work is obvious. ’When I first left school I was working for a builder who was in traditional slate roofing. I’m still doing things the way they were in the 1930s, so I can still do it the original way ’ and that’s maybe why we’re so busy. I’ve never advertised in my life.’
Taking the same kind of pride in his work as a shearing instructor has helped a generation of young shearers get started in the trade, and earned Richard a very special accolade, as the Shearing Personality of the Year award’s sixth recipient.
