Profiles of Committee Members
Chair : Brenda Russell
Brenda and Steve have been members of the club for a number of years and Brenda was previously a very good club secretary, a role yet to be passed on.
They live in West Wales and have gone from a few to quite a lot of goats over the last few years. They enjoy breeding and showing their goats, designing and building housing and managing the farm.
Treasurer and Membership Secretary : Steve Lenny
Show Co-ordinator : Sabine Lenny
Steve is the Treasurer and Membership Secretary, he also manages the web site.
Sabine is one of two show co-ordinators on the committee and she manages the shows at Builth Wells.
They are located about 10 miles west of Brecon, in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Sabine sells mohair/wool and knitted items on Facebook under New Meadow Shetland Sheep.
They have been members since 2018 and have had two Angora goats since 2017. They have no breeding experience.
Other livestock : They also have around 60-100 Shetland sheep and Arab Horses.
Goat Interests : Mohair and fleece preparation, washing, dying, carding, spinning, weaving, spinning, crochet and felting.
Zoom Coordinator : Debbie Francis
I live on a smallholding near Llanidloes in Mid-Wales, Where amongst other things I breed Angora goats for their fine fleeces. I sell at Cwm stwrdy Fibre Farm and shows and online.
I have had some success with my goats and fleeces at the Smallholder’s Show and other Welsh shows.
In the W&WAGC I organise the Zoom meeting and administer the members Facebook page.
Committee Member : Jo Beswick
I have been breeding Angora goats since 1988 (at my peak I had over 100 kids in one year!) but now I am semi-retired and just breeding from 8 pure, (although I have another 20 hopefully in kid to my Boer bucks). My USP is producing polled goats. I am probably the elder statesman for our group. I am a past Chair and actually started off the web site.
I am still involved with the Breed Show at the Royal Three Counties. I am Chief Goat Steward although no longer on TCAS Council. I am also on BAGS committee and a board member of British Mohair Marketing (BMM). The annual (or bi-annual) mohair collection is held on my farm and we have the facilities to pack wool sheets, quarantine and pack the container.
I have never been very active on the craft side (although I do knit) but have produced skin rugs and usually have a couple of casualty skins curing on the farm. I am happy to produce goats for meat although my older does all live out their days on my farm.
I have produced the BAGS Year Book and newsletters in the past.
Committee Member : Pat Rampton
More to come