The Team

John Hughes has worked for us for many many years (he wont tell us how many!), so there's not many people he doesnt know and is now leading the team at NWA Professional and NWA Property. John aims to be around at each main auction sale in Kendal and Lancaster.  John lives in Quernmore just outside Lancaster with partner Ann.

Michael is now relishing his new semi-retiremed status, so we only make him work three days per week. Michael is one of the country's leading arbitrators for landlord and tenant disputes and so is the person to approach first when you think you may have an issue and need advice.  He is now the Junior Vice-President of the CAAV and we are honoured Michael has been nominated for this role.

Adam joined the company in August 2010 to head up the livestock department in Kendal and Lancaster. Previously he was a Director and Auction Manager of Cockermouth Market. A qualified Land Agent he is also a National Council member of the Livestock Auctioneers Association and is Chairman of the Cumbria Association of Livestock Auctioneers. He lives near Penrith and is married with two children.

Matthew joined the company in 2009 having graduated from Harper Adams College. Matthew passed his Chartered Surveyor exams in 2012 and is now a member of the RICS. Matthew sells at both auctions and is the lead auctioneer for the Lancashire Holstein Club sales as well as selling commercial dairy, store cattle, calves, stirks and breeding sheep. Matthew lives in Garstang.

Gillian has been with the firm for over 20 years, having first started working for Michael Mashiter at M.B. Hodgson. She is the first point of call in the office and ensures that everything runs smoothly – the team can’t cope when she is away! Outside of work she is a keen skier and heads off to the slopes every year

Rodney joined the company to set up a brand new department which we call Farm Advisory Services, in 2006. With a background in banking and then as Group Secretary for the NFU in Ulverston for 20 years, Rodney prides himself on providing a no-nonsense service to our customers in a very cost-effective way. Rodney lives in Allithwaite and is married with two grown sons.

Carole joined the company in March 2012 further strengthening this growing department.  Carole has previously worked for the Lake District National Park Authority and Country Landowners' Association and is well-known to many of our customers.  Carole will work alongside Rodney Coward in the Kendal office.  Carole lives in Selside with partner, James Dixon, who is also a Director of the parent company, L&K Group Plc.  

Greg qualified in 1988 and worked at MB Hodgson & Son between 1990 -1997. He has many successful and varied development and building projects built and in use throughout the North West region, including barn conversions, new build houses, extensions to listed buildings and large industrial premises.  Greg has now re-joined our team and will be available to meet clients at either of our auction sites by appointment.

Sarah joined the team in December 2012 and is aiming to qualify as a Chartered Surveyor in 2013. She will be known to many from her work at the CLA and latterly Davis and Bowring. She lives in Kirkby Lonsdale and outside of work plays an active role within Westmorland County Agricultural Society and various other local equestrian organisations sitting on a variety of Committees

Adam joined the company in August 2010 to head up the livestock department in Kendal and Lancaster. Previously he was a Director and Auction Manager of Cockermouth Market. A qualified Land Agent he is also a National Council member of the Livestock Auctioneers Association and is Chairman of the Cumbria Association of Livestock Auctioneers. He lives near Penrith and is married with two children.

Gary is one of our senior auctioneers selling at both Kendal and Lancaster. He works part-time (although an auctioneer's work is never done) and he also farms in Ingleton. He is respected as being one of the best auctioneers in the northwest. Gary sells the prime stock at both auctions and the store cattle at Lancaster, which is now gaining the reputation as being the best weekly store cattle market in the North. Gary also undertakes a large number of annual stock valuations for our customers.

Matthew joined the company in 2009 having graduated from Harper Adams College. Matthew passed his Chartered Surveyor exams in 2012 and is now a member of the RICS. Matthew sells at both auctions and is the lead auctioneer for the Lancashire Holstein Club sales as well as selling commercial dairy, store cattle, calves, stirks and breeding sheep. Matthew lives in Garstang.

Richard joined the company after the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak as a fieldsman for Kendal. Over the years Richard has developed his role and takes an active role with the North of England Mule Sheep Association, Ambleside Fair Committee, other breed societies, Penrith Show, he organises the many show events attended by the company and is the first point of contact for any customer wishing to market their stock on a deadweight basis or farm-to-farm. Richard lives near Penrith and is married with two children.

George joined the team in April 2011. He brings with him a wealth of experience from farming in the Lake District and working in Auction Marts. he is a renowned sheep breeder including top quality Herdwick Sheep.

Kath ensures that each sale at NWA J36, our brand new auction, runs like clockwork, she is in charge of the office staff at J36 and knows pretty much everything there is to know about the auction systems and computers.  She is a fun-loving member of the team. Kath is married to George and lives at Crooklands Nr Milnthorpe.

Colin has worked for the company since leaving school and works at both NWA J36 and Lancaster Auctions, he keeps the paperwork right and sorts out any issues on the day. Colin is married and lives in Lancaster.

Margaret has worked for the company for many years and not only works at both auctions on sale days, but also provides secreatarial support for the manager and puts together the weekly newsletter and keeps the website up to date; an invaluable member of the team. Margaret is married and lives in Burton in Lonsdale.

Brenda has worked for the company for many years but took on a full-time role with North West Auctions in 2004, working alongside the office staff on a sale day and assisting with stock procurement for the auctioneers on other days.

Jackie mainly works at the Kendal office but can sometimes be found helping at Lancaster. Jackie also works for our sister company 1818 Auctioneers in the Antiques Saleroom - we like staff who can multi-task...

Marilyn works in the Lancaster office on a Friday, often to be found behind the main office counter chatting away with the customers, always ensuring a warm welcome and a laugh. We say 'every office needs a Marilyn'.

Barbara is that vital link between the office and the yard staff at Kendal, she makes sure your paperwork is right and she is often to be found waving the EID wand around at Kendal - dont worry she is fully trained...Married to Stephen who also works in the yard at Kendal

Barbara works at our Lancaster office and assists on sale days, she is married to Robert who also works in the yard at Kendal and Lancaster.

Kath works in both the office and in the yard on sale days. Mainly working at Lancaster but she will also call in at Kendal when additional help is needed. She is fully trained with the EID readers (we are glad someone is!). She is married to Ted who also works at Lancaster and Kendal in the yard.

Margaret works at our Lancaster market on Fridays.

Heather works in the Lancaster office on a Monday morning where things can be extremely hectic.

Jill works part-time for both auctions covering for holidays and busy sales. Jill also works in the antiques saleroom each month. She is often called upon at short notice to help out at any of the sales.

Emma works alongside our company secretary, Katie Black, assisting with the preparation of financial information for the board, doing credit control for the group and keeping a watchful eye on health and safety matters. She lives in Kirkby Lonsdale and has a young son.

Katie joined the company in 1994 shortly after qualifying as a Chartered Secretary. Katie has many varied roles in the company including financial, administration, personnel, shareholders, directors meetings, health and safety and more recently has been very involved in the company's relocation of Kendal mart to J36. She is married with two young children and lives on the family's farm in Staveley, Nr Kendal.

John is the yard foreman at Lancaster and works full-time. He runs a tight ship and organises the staff, making sure we are there to help you load and unload your stock easily. If you need to organise an early or late delivery/collection just contact John who will do his best to assist.

Raymond Robinson works at both Kendal and Lancaster Auctions. He is renowned for his skill in counting sheep and can probably recognise most of our Kendal customers sheep markings - very clever Raymondo! He farms at Crooklands.

Robert is possibly our longest serving member of yardstaff. He works at both Kendal and Lancaster and is married to Barbara who also works part-time on the office at Lancaster

Alan keeps Lancaster auction grounds looking ship shape, we think he does a pretty good job

Paul works at Kendal and Lancaster Auctions and is the contact for our Machinery Sales. Please contact Paul on 07831 801034 with any entries or queries regarding machinery sales.

Eddie works at Kendal Auction and is one of the longest serving members of staff at Kendal. He also farms at Selside, Nr Kendal.

Kath works in both the office and in the yard on sale days. Mainly working at Lancaster but she will also call in at Kendal when additional help is needed. She is fully trained with the EID readers (we are glad someone is!). She is married to Ted who also works at Lancaster and Kendal in the yard.

John is the Chairman of L&K Group Plc.

John runs a large dairy and sheep farm on the Abbeystead Estate near Lancaster with his three sons. He is totally committed to the Auction Mart business and was instrumental in bringing the two businesses of Lancaster Auction and Kendal Auction together in 2005.

Trevor is also a director of M B Hodgson and Son Limited and is currently heading up the team involved with the relocation of Kendal Auction

John Geldard joined the L & K Group board as a non-executive member in 2005 after nine years as a member of Lancaster Farmers' Auction Mart board of directors.

John farms in partnership with his wife, Rachel and sons, Richard and Charles at Low Foulshaw, Levens, near Kendal. The 500 acre grassland farm carries a commercial suckler herd, a nucleus herd of Stabiliser cattle, flocks of pedigree Charollais and Lleyn sheep and a free range poultry unit. John is a director of his off-farm diversification enterprise, Plumgarths, a local sourcing hub located in the family's converted traditional stone building at Kendal.

Monica Lee has a smallholding in Wyresdale and has rare breed sheep, and is a Director of L & K Group plc as well as Chair of M B Hodgson and Son now trading as NWA Professional and NWA Property.

She is Chair of Governors of Cawthorne's Endowed School, Abbeystead and a Trustee of the Cawthorne Educational Trust, and the Abbeystead Parish Hall Trust. Monica is also a Chartered Psychologist and is at the forefront of Human Resource Development and Management thinking and was the first female to be made Professor of HRD in the UK. She has lectured in the US, India, and Asia and been actively involved in developments in Russia and Central Europe. She is Visiting Professor at Northumbria University and a life-long Member of Lancaster University. She has written extensively and the Academy for HRD have created the Monica M Lee Award for research excellence in her name.

George has been on the National Judging Panel with the Holstein Friesian Society for more than 30 years and has judged at most of the major agricultural shows in the UK & Ireland. George is also a director of North West Auctions Limited

He lives on the family farm Crooklands, Nr Milnthorpe. The farm ceased milk production in 2004 when George's sons decided to pursue other careers. George joined the Kendal Auction Mart Board in 1998. He is married to Kath.

James was appointed Director of L & K Group in April 2008 and is a well known farmer and businessman in the Lakeland area.

He has recently completed his term as Chairman of the Westmorland County Agricultural Society and is also involved with the North West HGQ Beef initiative. He lives and farms in Selside, near Kendal.

Alan Bargh joined the board of L & K Group Plc in April 2008 and runs his family farm in Heaton with Oxcliffe, Morecambe, Lancashire.

He is another well known and well respected businessman and is a welcome addition to the L & K Group Board of Directors

Stuart Cornthwaite has been a non-executive director for L& K Group Plc since its formation in 2005 and previously as a director of Lancaster Farmers' Auction Mart Co Limited since 2002.

He is the Managing Director of haulage firm S J Bargh Limited. He lives with his family near Lancaster.

Katie joined the company in 1994 shortly after qualifying as a Chartered Secretary. Katie has many varied roles in the company including financial, administration, personnel, shareholders, directors meetings, health and safety and more recently has been very involved in the company's relocation of Kendal mart to J36. She is married with two young children and lives on the family's farm in Staveley, Nr Kendal.

Jackie has worked in the saleroom for a number of years as an auctioneers clerk, but more recently her interest in the jewellery and gold and silver departments has resulted in her promotion to Jewellery Advisor.  If you have any questions Jackie is very willing to assist and view any of your jewellery or gold/silver in the privacy of our offices.

Jill works part-time for both auctions covering for holidays and busy sales. Jill also works in the antiques saleroom each month. She is often called upon at short notice to help out at any of the sales.

Greg qualified in 1988 and worked at MB Hodgson & Son between 1990 -1997. He has many successful and varied development and building projects built and in use throughout the North West region, including barn conversions, new build houses, extensions to listed buildings and large industrial premises.  Greg has now re-joined our team and will be available to meet clients at either of our auction sites by appointment.