Shepherdess, Shearing Instructor & Wool Advocate

Hailing from Hampshire, Susie Parish has dedicated her life to farming, shearing, and championing British wool. As a shepherdess at The Grey Sheep Company, she oversees a flock of 500 sheep bred specifically for wool production. In addition to managing the flock, she plays a crucial role in the on-farm spinning mill, processing fleece into high-quality knitting yarns that are sold across the UK and exported worldwide.

Beyond her work at The Grey Sheep Company, Susie runs a sheep and alpaca shearing business and has carved out an impressive career in the wool industry. She made history as the first female shearing instructor for British Wool and has become a well-respected voice in the industry, holding leadership positions as Southern Region Chairman and Hampshire Representative for British Wool and Southeast Region Chairman for the NSA.

Her contributions to wool and shearing education extend far beyond the farm. As a Lister Shearing Ambassador and BISCA shearing judge, Susie has promoted the industry on numerous prime-time TV and radio shows. She also played a key role in the NFU Schools’ Project, demonstrating shearing and wool processing via a live stream that reached an incredible 60,000 children.

Susie’s achievements have been widely recognised, including winning the Farmers Weekly Farm Diversification Award as part of The Grey Sheep Company. However, one of her proudest personal moments remains winning the ladies’ class at the Royal Welsh Show, a testament to her skill and dedication to shearing.

Farming is more than a profession for Susie—it’s a way of life. Having been raised on a farm, she has always been drawn to working with animals, particularly sheep and border collies. The ever-changing seasons, the land, and the wildlife continue to inspire her daily, making it impossible to imagine doing anything else.

Shearing Contractor and Record Holder

Originally from New Zealand and now based in Cornwall, Matthew Smith has dedicated his life to farming and shearing. As a shearing contractor in the Southwest, he runs a diverse farming enterprise, managing 1,200 Romney sheep, 700 Red Deer, and 100 cattle.

Farming has been in Matthew’s blood since birth, shaping both his personal and professional journey. A relentless drive for excellence led him to break one of the most prestigious records in shearing – the 9-hour strong wool ewe shearing record. His dedication and skill have also seen him represent England on the shearing stage, a testament to his commitment to the industry.

While Matthew often jokes that he’s “not right in the head” for choosing farming, his passion for the land and the wool industry speaks for itself. His proudest moment remains breaking a shearing record that many regard as one of the toughest in the world.

As a British Wool ambassador, Matthew is committed to promoting the benefits of wool, ensuring its value is recognised across the industry and beyond. He draws inspiration from successful people across all walks of life, using their drive and determination to fuel his own ambitions.

Andy joined British Wool in 2020 and is a Chartered Accountant having trained with KPMG in Leeds. Andy spent 15 years with KPMG mostly in audit, dealing with clients across multiple sectors and of varying sizes from billion turnover listed PLC’s, US or European groups, all the way down to local, small owner managed businesses. Andy also led the UK audit of Arla Foods for several years and therefore understands some of the dynamics of a farmer owned business. Andy left KPMG in 2014 to become Finance Director of a £35m turnover chain of bars and restaurants across the North of England in which he was responsible for all areas of finance, tax, legislation, reporting, and IT. Andy lives in Guiseley, Leeds and enjoys coaching his son’s football team, playing golf and cycling, when allowed.

Tel: 01274 688666
Email: [email protected]