A sheep was being auctioned today in memory of the ‘brilliant’ 15-year-old son of a prominent Cumbrian farming family.
The ewe was sold at Rugby Farmer’s Market on Friday August 28, marking exactly one year since the death of 15-year-old William Pedley, who had shown her as a lamb at a local show in Barbon, Carnforth.
The charity auction formed part of the Farmers Market’s annual NEMSA Mule show and sale at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.
The money raised from the sale will go towards raising vital funds for national suicide prevention charity Papyrus.
Will, from Barbon, was the son of Richard and Jess Pedley, mule breeders who have been involved in the Rugby show for a decade.
The 15-year-old was found on the family farm on August 28, 2025, after going missing earlier that week.
In a statement posted by the North of England Mule Sheep Association, the Pedleys said: “Will was a brilliant friend to anyone fortunate enough to know him and always had an ear for anybody who needed it, such was his caring personality.”
“He was becoming a good stockman and was his dad’s right-hand man with his whole life ahead of him. He leaves behind a massive void in our devasted family and amongst his friends.”
They said that the farming community and friends have helped them get through this fall without him and that they kept them going when they felt like giving up.
In honour of the support they have received, the family have been supporting Papyrus, a charity that works to prevent suicide in young people.
Following Will’s death, the family offered the last ewe lamb he had shown for auction at the same sale last autumn.
Repeated sales and donations from northern and southern farmers raised about £8,400 for Papyrus, with the ewe ultimately ending up at Henry Tustian’s farm in the trusty hands of Taymar Tustian.
She has since produced twin lambs and is set to return to the sale ring to raise further funds.
Suicide is currently the leading cause of death for people under the age of 35 and Papyrus works under the belief that young suicide can be prevented.
“Our family doesn’t want any other families to go through the nightmare that we are going through,” the Pedleys said.
“While this may seem an impossibility, if the awareness and support Papyrus provides saves just one life then that is a step in the right direction.”
More information about the work that Papyrus do can be found here.
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