Charles McGowan

A man of many diverse talents, Charles is a part farmer and countryman, ex classic car restorer, budding artist blacksmith, a sometime builder, amateur photographer, and fisherman, a father of two and of course owner of Southlands and Dee's husband.

Dee McGowan

Dee is a mad keen gardener, we started off with a smallholding, however she seems determined to turn the whole thing into one big garden. She is also an accomplished artist, if you can persuade her to swap fork for brush for a moment. Oh, and she catches more fish than Charles.

Alan Hawkins

Alan is a true Northumbrian, he has been a stockman since forever. He has the dry wit that comes from making the best of a life that can be difficult, demanding and rewarding in equal measure.

He is a countryman through to his bones and a keen shot to boot. He is a BASC Accredited Shotgun Coach and a member of the Guild of Shooting Instructors.

He is a very good coach, I should never have let him teach Hector as he now puts me to shame every time he picks up a gun. Find Alan at: www.learntoshootclays.co.uk

Roger Clegg

Roger is a photographer who has made Hadrian's Wall his own, the chances are that some of the photographs of the wall that you will have seen were taken by him. I went with him one December morning to find out how it's done, he showed me techniques to shoot an amazing sunrise from a not very promising dawn, and I must say he is a very good teacher, he distils ideas to their essence imparting clear knowledge making the whole process much simpler.  

John Clark

John runs Campcolis dog training centre www.campcolis.co.uk

John has been training and working dogs for over 20 years and what started as a hobby training dogs for friends has become a business.  John and his team of dogs pick up on three Estates. John's wife Dot sees more to the day-to-day running of the kennels, the feeding and breeding, and the bookings.

John runs puppy classes for working or pet dogs, he also does group training or one-to-one sessions, and has facilities for residential training, and he also has a training pen which can be hired.