(When my daughter researched the 'Gibbon' family tree, we found that our ancestors, through my father's line, had been farmers in County Durham continuously since the early 1700s. And, although my son does not farm here at Furmiston, I am pleased that he is carrying on the tradition by farming a mixed farm on the Orkney Islands.)
THE "ETHERLEY" JERSEY HERD was founded in 1953 by my father John Gibbon, when he lived in the parish of Etherley in County Durham. He also bred Shorthorn cattle and Pedigree Large White pigs.
When we moved to Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, the Jersey Herd was moved also, and it was here that we became well known as stock breeders. No less than 24 Show Championships were won during our 25 years there and several Herd Competitions. We had the honour of showing the Jersey cow which won the Interbreed Title at Dumfries Show in 1990, the first time that had ever been done with a Jersey. The herd was dispersed in 1994 due to our relocation to a hill farm.
Cattle breeding has always interested me therefore I was honoured to be asked to become Chairman of the Jersey Cattle Society of UK, a position I held for the statutory two years and served on Council for 12 years. I also had the privilege of judging Jersey cattle, and other breeds, at all the major Shows in the United Kingdom.
Some photographs are attached of a very happy time in our lives.
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A good year for Trophies | Judging Jerseys at The Highland |
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Jersey Judging RHS | Our first Highland Show Champion |
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| First Interbreed Champion - Dumfries | Emma, with Cumberland Show Champion |
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| 1st, 2nd & 3rd in the 'Drambuie' Class! | Another Dumfries Champion |
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| Jersey Judging in Northern Ireland | With some Judging associates.... |
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| Judging Charolais Cattle..... | and Dexter Cattle....... |
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....and Longhorn Cattle | Judging Highlanders at Durham Show |
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