Young Jack Walton is the new livestock auctioneer at Hexham and Northern Marts – fulfilling his ambition to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather Michael.

Jack (21) recently joined the Hexham-based auction company as trainee auctioneer after graduating in rural land management from the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, this summer.

“I always wanted to be like my grandfather Michael Walton and one of my big aims was to sell Suffolk tups in front of him which I was able to do at Hexham in October,” said Jack. “He had a big smile on his face so he must have thought I did a good job.”

The Walton family originally from Roseden near Wooler has been synonymous with auctioneering – and Suffolk sheep – another tradition Jack aspires to with his own flock one day.

His father Peter trained as an auctioneer but pursued a career in professional rugby and is now head of academy at Gloucester Rugby while his uncle Andrew is a part-time auctioneer and his second uncle, Micky runs the pedigree Roseden Suffolk flock for Lilburn Estates at Wooler.

Jack’s involvement with auction marts began in his home area at Worcester market when he was just 13, being taken under the wing of Clive Roads, the current chairman of McCartneys which runs the market.

“I love having the adrenalin rush when you are selling and working for the vendor - but it’s not just about the selling, it’s the whole aspect of auctioneering – the community spirit. I really enjoy going to farms and talking to farmers,” said Jack, who was chairman of the students’ union while at Cirencester.

His first stint at auctioneering was when he was 14 selling a gold pocket watch which topped the sale of household goods for Howkins and Harrison in Rugby where his mother Diana, now head of shows at the Three Counties Showground, previously worked.

At 18, he raised £7400 for the RABI and RSABI (Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution) by visiting 25 markets from Dingwall to Truro, selling a pen of sheep at each market.