ON September 15, the Church of St Thomas à Becket, Huntington was filled for its last event of 2018.

The Friends of the Church welcomed renowned Herefordshire auctioneer Julian Gallimore to talk about his life.

Mr Gallimore, a well-known figure in Herefordshire agricultural circles, spoke about his formative years with his auctioneer father, Bill Gallimore, travelling across the country to sell on-farm and at markets.

The talk spanned his 45-year career with stories, anecdotes and industry insights. For many in the audience it was a trip down memory lane.

Much of the talk was given to his love of Hereford cattle, from the history of the breed to its changing fortunes at auction.

The talk was accompanied by photos and video of auctions and the many characters Mr Gallimore encountered in his travels.

These included members of the aristocracy, captains of industry and politicians, but more importantly, many of our local breeders to whom he paid tribute.

Mr Gallimore outlined the global reach of cattle sales stretching back to the Second World War and the fantastic prices that prize cattle have raised over the years.

After the talk, the guests were entertained with free wine and canapés donated by supporters of Friends of St Thomas à Becket Church.