Stars of BBC Two’s 2011 Lambing Live programme, the Marston family from Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria, said they were honoured to be the ones to officially open the new NFU office in Appleby – 66 years after Donald Marston’s grandfather became the organisation’s first ever full time representative in the town.

Appleby is the Marston’s local branch of the NFU, an organisation which represents more than 55,000 farming members in England and Wales and a club the family have always chosen to be a part of.

Three generations of the Marston family took the time to leave their busy Easegill Head Farm to join 40 other NFU members for the official opening ceremony on Thursday 26 May. Donald Marston and his wife Christine were joined by their son Andrew and his daughters Catherine and Abigail – sadly Olivia could not be there.

When cutting the ribbon, the girls followed in the footsteps of their great, great grandfather – John William Birkbeck (Donald’s mother’s father). John Birkbeck became Appleby’s first ever NFU secretary back in 1945, loyally serving the membership of the area until 1957 when his son (Donald’s uncle) Alan Birkbeck took over the role until 1966.

Amanda Wallbank, who is a group secretary at Appleby, added: “We had no idea that the Marston family are steeped in NFU history. It’s obviously in the genes. John William Birkbeck was a champion for farmers back in the forties and fifties so it’s fitting that his descendants are carrying on his good work at a national level and in a very modern way.”

Before working for the NFU, John Birkbeck was a feed rep selling cross bone fertiliser. He had a feeling he was going to lose his job following a fire at a feed mill in Liverpool, so he applied for the NFU position.

“To ensure he got the job he went to the interview with at least ten potential members he’d sign up if he was offered the position,” recalled Donald Marston.

“He was a well-liked man in the area and was particularly popular with the farm kids as he always carried sweets in his pocket which he’d get from his wife’s village shop.

“When my uncle Alan took over the role, he lived in Great Asby and had to erect a garden shed to keep all of his paperwork in. I suppose this was the first ever NFU Appleby office.”

Speaking about the current crop of Marstons, NFU Appleby’s senior group secretary, Caroline Raine, said: “Every morning after Lambing Live was broadcast on BBC Two I’d chat in the office about how Catherine and Abigail’s cute and lovable personalities had stolen the show. They stole the show again at the NFU Appleby office opening, cutting the official ribbon in a style true Royalty would have been proud of.”

Robert Sheasby, NFU North West regional director, added: “I hope the NFU’s new Appleby office on Low Wiend becomes a focal point for the farming community in the area. NFU members in Appleby are rightly proud of their peers who have been promoting farming on a national stage, their group secretaries who work tirelessly on their behalf and now their brand new office. Farming has a bright future in this part of the country. A future I’m sure John William Birkbeck would have been pleased to witness.”