[Rosemary]

Like the guy from the knackers, the slaughterman, the folk who work in the marts.

We had to have a dead ewe picked up by the knackers. We use Douglasbrae and it's a bloke called Les who came today (and he came the only other time we've had to get them out). He's such a nice bloke, phones ahead so we're ready, is helpful, doesn't seem to mind if a few tears are shed and is quick and efficient. These guys are out on the roads in all weathers, picking up the inevitable deadstock and sometimes humanely dispatching fallen animals. It must be a thankless, cold, stinking job - I mean, nobody's really pleased to SEE the knackerman, are they?

So my wee tribute to one of the unsung heroes - may we not see you too often, but thanks, Les.

[henchard]

Couldn't agree more.

But there are unsung heroes in most places; the tea lady in the hospital ward who always has a cheery word for patients or the bin men who always check that the old lady down a rural lane is ok when they collect the bins.

Sadly these people are hardly ever recognised as being useful or valuable to society; particularly to the accountant 'bean counters' (looking to privatise everything in the guise of efficiency and profit) who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

[Izzy]

Sorry to hear you've needed the knackerman R. Certainly I 've learnt to hold my breath as a Douglasbrae wagon passes on a warm day. The smell ain't great so the drivers are due credit for tolerating that.

[Fleecewife]

Our guys are brilliant too.  One day one turned up here on the verge of tears.  He had had to destroy a beautiful young cow which had a stuck calf - and the farmer hadn't bothered to send for a vet when he might still have been of use    Mr F was taken to look at the cow and share the poor guy's misery.   Their job has many downsides, and they deserve a smile and a thank you 

[Rupert the bear]

Before we dispatched our own Douglasbrae  would come for them as said before rang ahead , would meet him at the top of the drive, I could hold it together but it wasn't the dispatching bit,but immediately before he would say to the goat " be at peace "

[devonlady]

Rupert, that almost made me cry! The dear man.

[CarolineJ]

I have a cousin who was a total nightmare when he was a kid, in with the wrong crowd, trouble with the police, the works.  Then, when he was about 15, foot and mouth hit the UK and, living in a rural area, he saw first-hand the Army coming in to help with the cull.  He decided on the spot that he was going to become a slaughterman 'because they at least deserve to have someone who knows what they're doing'.  He got his act together, and now he's held in fear by all the young lads who have seen the dressing down he'll give to anyone who dares abuse any of the livestock in the lairage or on the kill line.  Very proud of him.

[Marches Farmer]

We once had an old sow with a tumour - the slaughter company boss turned out for that one and spent ten minutes waiting for her to be in the perfect position for a clean, instant kill.

[plumseverywhere]

The amount of times I've cried down the phone to ours and they are so patient and good! Definitely unsung heroes and worth their weight in gold

[Lesley Silvester]

I've only had to have a goat lifted once and the man who came couldn't have been lovelier. He could see I was upset and told me to go inside and leave it all to him. He left everything tidy and no sign he had even been apart from the fact that my goat's body had gone.