Spencer and Diane Hannah have been inducted into the Worshipful Company Of Woolmen and admitted to the Freedom of the City of London by Redemption in recognition of their work championing the Herdwick sheep.

Spencer and Diane Hannah have been inducted into the Worshipful Company Of Woolmen and admitted to the Freedom of the City of London by Redemption in recognition of their work championing the Herdwick sheep.

“We are extremely proud to have been recognised by the historic and ancient City Guilds” explains Spencer, “It has been a privilege of ours to work closely with Lake District fell farmers over the last fifteen years, helping to promote the Herdwick. By becoming Woolmen, our ambition is not only to continue championing the Herdwick and its birthplace, The Lake District, but to also help promote British wool to a global audience.”

Diane and Spencer were inducted into the Woolmen in the official Clothing Ceremony which took place at The Cutlers Hall in Sheffield in March.

Under Warden of The Woolmen, Peter Hullah, said “Herdy’s smiling face has helped bring national attention to the Herdwick breed. We are delighted that Spencer and Diane have joined us as Woolmen and we look forward to Herdy making a unique contribution to our Livery. They continue to focus on raising awareness through their iconic brand, whilst increasing the value of Herdwick wool through the sale of Herdysleep Mattresses”

Diane explained that “The Herdysleep mattress contains Herdwick wool because it’s a superb body temperature regulator. We source our Herdwick wool at fair trade rates from our co-operative of Lake District farmers. When people buy a Herdysleep mattress they can be reassured that they are helping to support our upland fell farming community.”

The demand for and value of Herdwick wool is on a high. British Wool (formerly The Wool Board) have recognised the Herdy brand’s contribution towards this. CEO Andrew Hogley said “British Wool has seen strong demand for Herdwick wool over recent months with auction prices this season well above £1 per kilo. Higher auction prices will in turn lead to better returns for the farmers who sell their Herdwick wool through British Wool’s collective marketing scheme. Demand for Herdwick wool has been driven by a number of manufacturers, predominantly in the carpet and mattress sectors. The industry has also benefitted from the greater awareness and visibility of the iconic Herdwick breed. Brands such as Herdy have made an important contribution to building this consumer awareness.“

The Worshipful Company of Woolmen is one of the oldest Guilds (or Liveries) in the City of London, tracing its roots back to 1180.