When my editor said “Go forth and interview a Sheepdog trainer” I thought well, thanks a lot. So much for Ms. 21^st Century Techno. Sheepdogs mean sheep mean countryside. Mud, straw, pungent odours. “It’s a woman”. Oh, good. I’ll leave my Manolo Blahnik’s in the boot, then, and I’ll dutifully set off to be scolded by the new Barbara Woodhouse. Blind with terror and trying to clear my mind of powder blue courtelle twin sets, I set off in high trepidation.

The geese were fixing me with a weather eye when I arrived, still convinced my editor had Got It All Wrong. Steel of spine, I was up for it.  Cloth cap and tweed jacket with leather elbow patches. Smocking. Ruddy cheeks. A reeking pipe on the go. Bucolic male, 65. Sexist comments. Bring it on.

So I didn’t really expect to meet a cross between a paler Halle Berry and a younger Gina Lollobrigida. Katy Cropper is what is commonly known as bloody stunning. Slender, tanned, (and I don’t mean weathered, I’ve now dropped the Farmer Giles analogies) fit, young, beautiful and female. And very, very talented.

Classic FM blaring, Katy shouts “Can we talk while I iron?” I always love watching other people do it. Sat in her kitchen full of photos, ironing, press cuttings, and bits from her amazing lives, Katy told me her story. And it’s a funny, inspiring, and incredible one. Katy has been a shepherd since the age of 23, after studying at art school, and describes herself as an “instinctive” sheepdog trainer. She is the only woman to win the finals of the TV series One Man and his Dog, when she saw off the opposition in Yorkshire in 1990 (that must have put the wind up the old guard). Following this unique success, Katy went on to appear on the Wogan Show and Blue Peter, and gave numerous interviews on national radio, TV and to the press. She wrote her autobiography in 1992, at an age when most people are still looking for a life. “Sold 19,000 copies!” she says proudly. She also made a video for the training of sheepdogs, and a documentary entitled “A Year in the life of Katy Cropper, Shepherdess”. Other jobs have included veterinary nurse, an assistant at a Welsh mountain zoo, and a designer. In fact, I’m drinking my coffee out of a Katy Cropper designed mug. Sorry, forgot to mention, she also writes and illustrates books and children’s stories.  She’s teaching her dogs commands in Swahili. And she’s learning to fly…..Funny, I thought she already could……….

Katy’s new found media fame propelled her into after-dinner speaking, which she still performs across the UK. The Lady Taverner’s, Kenyan East African Women’s League, Cricket Clubs, and various Ladies Lunches have all enjoyed the Cropper Tales.

Katy originally hails from Cheshire. Her father, who, like mine, died three years ago, was headmaster of St David’s College in Llandudno. She refers to him as
“simply the greatest man that ever wore boots”. She lived and worked in Wensleydale prior to moving to Wolverhampton five years ago.  

Ever the countrywoman, Katy describes herself as married to a huntsman “for two seasons”. With two previous husbands and now single, Katy shares her life with her dogs, Tomber the labrador (Tomber apparently means something rude in Swahili; suggestions to Day and Night Magazine please, and I’m not promising any prizes), Safi (Swahili for smart) and Tess the border collies; several hens, Eric the pony, geese, ducks, and of course sheep. Then there’s the creation of which she is most proud; her beautiful daughter Henrietta Maisha (Swahili for “life”), just one year old. Already Henrietta is displaying Cropper genes and has her own basket saddle to ride Eric.

Every few weeks, Katy and Henrietta pile their three dogs, 15 ducks, five sheep, ten geese, six turkeys and Eric the horse into a van and set off for sheepdog displays and fairs, country shows, game fairs, gundog trials and live events all over the UK. And it’s more than just a display of sheepdog stuff. That would not be Katy. Classes within the shows include “Dog that can eat the most sausages”, “Best six legs”, and the “Dog most like its owner”. Katy also does children’s parties, with her dogs shepherding the turkey showjumping, (don’t ask), duck racing, and that fabulous spectator sport and mouthful, sheep steeplechase. For those of you who are unfortunate enough never to have seen it, sheep steeplechasing involves, well, racing real sheep with little stuffed jockey sheep on their backs, all in “silks”, complete with caps and numbers. They all pile over miniature brush fences and it makes you cry laughing. Never miss out on the opportunity to see this. You’ll thank me for it.

Katy also does obedience training for dogs. ”I always say it takes a year for each foot to train a sheep dog. The skill is to know when to reprimand, and always to be pack leader. Dogs like routine, their own space. It’s important not to be aggressive with them, to balance it right. The worse mistake people make is to assume that border collies need lots of exercise. They throw sticks and toys and make them chase things – it makes them crazy. Then they put them on a lead and expect them to walk to heel – that’s not the way. They just don’t understand the breed. Of course, you also have to understand sheep”.

I ventured into Woodhouse territory. “She was great fun, and good at what she did. We need more characters like Barbara. People are far too serious, critical of others …we need more fun!”

Katy is very pro hunting. She fly fishes and shoots, and has even hunted on foot with the Blencathra foxhounds. She describes her favourite food as “anything I can kill myself!” One of her specialities is rook pie -“you can tell they’re real rooks because the beaks stick out of the pastry. I like to cook and I would grow my own vegetables, but the ducks eat everything”.

Ironing finished, Katy asks “Would you like to look at the sheep?” Well, yes, but where are they? I’m not walking to Albrighton. We wandered outside to the paddock. No sheep. With a soft “come by” uttered mid sentence while talking about the garden, Safi was off like a bolt of lightening, with Tess describing the hypotenuse. Within seconds, I’m surrounded by a bemused flock of lovely Herdwicks (I know, sheep always look bemused, but these looked strangely happy into the bargain). How does she do it? Whenever I’ve seen sheep herded before (on TV, of course, and I confess once in Ceredigion), the little blighters stand around, look confused and finally take off in the opposite direction, with the shepherd barking meaningless commands at yawning dogs. Katy seems to possess this effortless and innate control over hers, and claims it is instinctive. I asked her how she related to humans.

 “I’m totally skint but rich with life’s experiences. What is most important to me is my relationship with people. I have a strong belief system and a natural love of life. I love living in Wolverhampton. It’s so central, the people are friendly and we have beautiful countryside. I’ve lived here five years and I’m very happy”.

Tell me something to put me off you. “I don’t like cats”. OK, one fault allowed.

So. Katy. What would you say to someone who lives in a flat three floors up, has a full time job but is desperate to buy a border collie, for that occasional fantasy of being the green wellie man? “Simple. DON’T DO IT!!!”

Katy Cropper is available for parties, shows, dog training, one and three day courses and after dinner speaking on 07836 586878. I hope she is also available for passing on her passion for living, her big sense of fun, her incredible warmth and her beauty – she really should give the rest of us a chance….

There. And I didn’t even mention Robin Page or Phil Drabble…..Aw, bugger.