2001 UK foot-and-mouth outbreak - 25 years on: "It was the worst time of my life"

Auctioneer Andrew Templeton, of Harrison & Hetherington, reflects on a defining chapter in British agriculture's history, the emotional impact of working in the industry at the time, and why the sector has still not fully recovered since

Chris Brayford

17 February 2026 • 4 min read

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Andrew Templeton, auctioneer at Harrison & Hetherington, said: "We must remember, for livestock farmers, it was total devastation. Since that day, there is not a livestock farmer who has not uttered the words, ‘We must not let the marts close again', at some time or another."

It has been 25 years since the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak brought the livestock industry to a standstill. For Harrison & Hetherington auctioneer Andrew Templeton, it remains the most devastating...

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