Two stars from the Channel 5 series Reuben Owen: Life in the Dales have shared details of a devastating family bereavement. The popular programme concluded its third series, with the final episode centring on Reuben's girlfriend Jess and her family's farm, Brough Castle Farm, during lambing season.
Jess and Dave Open Up About Loss
In the episode, Jess and her father Dave spoke about Jess's grandfather, who passed away before she was born. Jess said: "I never got to meet him, sadly." Dave revealed that he was only 14 when his father Thomas was diagnosed with leukaemia, forcing him to take on farm responsibilities at a young age. He added: "I was only 16 when he died."
Dave recalled: "When I was at school, my dad was ill, so I missed a lot of school, that's just how it was." Jess acknowledged the difficulty: "It must have been hard, doing a hard job and that happening at the same time." Dave replied: "You just have to keep going. Even if my dad hadn't been ill, I would have still taken up farming, I loved it."
Grandfather's Legacy at Brough Castle Farm
In a previous episode, Jess visited her grandfather's grave, with Reuben saying: "Sadly, I never met him." Jess later met her grandmother, reflecting: "Ever since I was small, we've always done jobs as a family really, Nana has always been there helping out. I miss grandad, I really do miss grandad. It's not the same anymore since he died."
Jess's grandfather George died in 2018 at the age of 70. The Channel 5 narrator explained that he inherited Brough Castle Farm at age 18 and dedicated his life to improving it for his family's future. Jess told her Nana: "I think he'd be happy to see where it's at now, things have carried on." Her Nana replied: "You've taken over, it's like passing on the baton, and he would have been thrilled to bits to see what you have done since he died."
Jess's Passion for Farming
Jess also discussed her love for farming, describing lambing season as hard work but rewarding: "A lot of hours, but when you have something like that, it puts a smile on your face, and the sun is shining, it's wonderful. There's not another place where I'd want to be." Dave remembered how Jess cared for lambs as a child, calling those "the best days."
In a 2023 article for Farmers Guardian, the then-18-year-old Jess said: "Farming is in my blood: I grew up on Brough Castle Farm and remember helping my mum and dad in the fields from a young age. Since then, it is all I have ever wanted to do." She added: "I see all the animals as part of our family."
Reuben Owen: Life in the Dales is available to watch on Channel 5.
