1 of 2
Katie Franks' Alpacas
Katie Franks' Alpacas
2 of 2
Katie Franks
Katie Franks
Katie Franks and her Alpaca Adventure
“It’s about love,” Katie Franks tells me on the door of her beautiful home, “you fall in love with these creatures and just want to get to know them and have more!”
She’s talking about her growing herd of alpacas – beautiful creatures who are curious, affectionate and Katie’s passion.
Alpacas are the smaller relatives of llamas, and have been bred for their fleece in South America for thousands of years. Katie wears a hat made from the fibre that she dyed and felted herself which is very warm and light.
“It is a commitment,” she tells me, “They live for 20 years or more, and for them to be content you really should have three or more – we have ten at the moment. You can’t get in for the short term! I can’t imagine not having them.”
Born in Aberdeen in 1944, Katie has obviously acquired her inquiring mind from her father: an eminent chemist who ended up heading the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research – charged with inspiring and funding research that would benefit the whole nation.
In her early years, Katie said she had a reputation as a free spirit – or was a naughty girl as some of her teachers would have it – before channeling her energies into sports at school and beyond: she was a keen rider, swimmer, ice skater and tennis player.
After attending Cheltenham Ladies College she studied Law, Economics and Sociology at Exeter University. It was during this time she met her future husband Nicko, who taught her to water- ski at Newton Ferrers!
Nicko’s naval career meant their married life was never going to be quiet or simple. A few weeks after they tied the knot he jumped on a ship bound for Singapore. Katie planned to join him after a few months, but had to ask her father for £10 for a plane ticket:
“He wasn’t pleased,” she recalls, “He said: ‘Why do you have a husband?’ to which I replied ‘Why do I have a father?’ He gave me the money I needed.”
It set the pattern of their lives together, moving from place to place as Nicko’s role demanded, and Katie tells wonderful tales of their adventures all around the world, from Hong Kong to Italy, America and Australia. The couple have three children and seem to have embraced and enjoyed their lifestyle.
But now it’s time to settle down, Katie said, and the alpacas are the perfect answer.
Katie and Nicko have lived in their home, nestled in a valley on the road to Stoke Fleming, since 2004, and Katie said after a life of constant travel and moving around she made a conscious decision to take on the task of looking after animals that would reward staying in one place!
“After we were married in 1968, Nicko’s work for the Navy meant we moved 27 times in our life before moving to Devon,” she said. “I’ve always loved animals, learning about and caring for them, so I thought that I would keep goats. I had helped look after them while living in Kent, but the more I heard about Alpacas the more intrigued I became. I was spurred on by friends telling me I was mad to even consider it because it would tie me down, so I wanted to prove them wrong!”
“I contacted an acquaintance near here who owned a herd and went to meet her. I bought a pregnant female Huacaya and was loaned a Suri female so it started from there. Often people start with three castrated males, but having a pregnant animal seemed so much more interesting to me – it makes it more challenging! Their arrival was such an exciting beginning to my new adventure.”
Starting out in a small paddock field just in front of their house, Katie began to learn about the basics of Alpaca husbandry.
“There is a lot to learn,” she tells me. “There are injections you have to administer, mites you have to check for,. You have to cut their toenails and check their teeth. When the ladies get pregnant it can become a real challenge – one of mine changes from a sweet docile creature to being very difficult to deal with! All my herd are trained to walk on a halter; I start training the crias when they’re about six months old, which takes a bit of work but is fun and rewarding and is vital for so many situations.”
The training is starting to pay off in many ways, not least as Katie was able to exhibit two of her black-wool boys at the Devon Show last year. They came second and third in their classes, and Katie said she intends to continue showing as it was great fun.
As we walk among the alpacas at feeding time, Katie is checking out each animal in turn, making sure they get enough to eat, looking to see they are walking correctly, paying special attention to the two babies in the group. She chats away about their personalities, how they were named (each new animal is named using the first letter of one of her and Nicko’s nine grandchildren) and the challenges each one faced during their young lives. It’s clear looking after the animals is not straightforward and requires dedication – but where do you learn it?
“There is a marvelous support network amongst owners and associations who can put you in touch with experts and training courses too,” Katie tells me. “It’s wonderful always to be learning something new.
“I’m also very lucky to have help from a wonderful lady called Anna, who has helped me so much over the last few years.”
Katie said the responsibility of having Alpacas was one she took very seriously.
“Sometimes it is a worry,” she says, “When the rain is hammering down or the wind is howling or they have a problem you worry that they will be ok. You become very involved with them. You fall in love with them – who wouldn’t want to look after these gorgeous creatures?”
First published December 2013 By The Dart