A POPULAR cheesemaker has announced the death of its “proud mum” and founder in a statement issued online.
Shepherds Purse Cheeses, based near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, announced the passing of its founder Judy Bell MBE, on Facebook last night.
In a statement issued on their Facebook page, the cheesemaker announced the news “with great sadness.”
They continued to say that Judy was all things to the North Yorkshire-based cheesemaker, “our founder, our colleague and friend.”
It added: “Loving wife to Nigel, proud mum of Caroline, Katie, Justin and the late Jonathan, and a devoted and proud Grandmother.”
The statement explained that Judy “was an inspiration and continued to giver her support generously.”
It said: “Judy was an inspiration and continued to give her support generously, not only to us at Shepherds Purse after she handed over the reins to her girls in 2012, but to many others across the cheese, food and farming industries.
“She will be remembered as an ambassador for independent business, a pioneer of the food industry and a champion of all things Yorkshire. A true force of nature.”
Judy’s funeral will take place at Ripon Cathedral on Friday March 25 at 1pm.
A further “celebration of her life” will take place at Solberge Hall, Northallerton.
The company has requested “family flowers only” and donations to Cancer Research UK would also be appreciated should people wish.
The family-run dairy was named among the best in the world, after it scooped itself a prestigious gong of the World Cheese Award, beating several French and Swiss varieties.
Shepherds Purse Cheese was awarded Super Gold for its sheep’s milk cheese, Mrs Bells Blue, at the event in Sans Sabastian, Spain in 2016.
The cheese, which was named after Mrs Bell, is described as having a “sweet and salty, rich flavour that is milder than Roquefort, but packs a punch for blue cheese fans.”
In 2017 the cheesemaker picked up another Super Gold award at that year’s World Cheese Awards.
The winning cheese, Harrogate Blue, was the first cheese launched by Katie Matten and Caroline Bell after taking over the running of the dairy from mum Judy in 2012.
It was also included on the top table of the best 16 cheese at the event from more than 3,000 entries from 35 countries around the world.
In 2005, the Thirsk cheesemaker lost a six-year legal battle to label one of its cheeses “feta” and instead was forced to call it “beta".
At the time, Judy Bell branded the European bureaucrats “idiots” after they ruled that only cheese from Greece can be called feta.
Shepherds Purse Cheeses, had produced a tonne a week of Yorkshire “feta” since 1987.
After support and suggestions of new names flooding in from across the country, Mrs Bell decided to call her cheese Yorkshire Beta.
She said: "I've had hundreds of letters and e-mails since the ruling, with people offering support and suggestions of new names. I even had one letter from a litigation lawyer offering to help.
"About 75 per cent of people suggested I should rename the cheese Yorkshire Beta."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here