A right royal occasion sees thousands turn out to support farmers
Tens of thousands of people enjoyed visiting this year’s South of England Show in an overwhelming demonstration of support for the region’s farming community.
Despite bitter sweet rain showers during the first two of its three days, the flagship event saw large crowds of happy visitors enjoying the sights, sounds and ambience of the countryside spectacle on the edge of Ardingly, near Haywards Heath.
One of the most exciting Shows for many years, the South of England Agricultural Society chose the Year of Water as its theme and WaterAid as its main charitable cause.
Among celebrities visiting were veteran TV presenter David Dimbleby, Forces’ Sweet Heart Dame Vera Lynn and former motorcycle stuntman Eddie Kidd, exhausted but still smiling after his mammoth two month journey completing the course of the London Marathon. Eddie received an emotional and impromptu standing ovation on Saturday when he took a salute for the White Helmets Display Team in the Ardingly Ring and was then introduced to Dame Vera ’ a loyal supporter of the Show.
The South of England Agricultural Society said it was especially pleased and honoured to welcome HRH The Earl of Wessex as this year’s Royal visitor. HRH was escorted around on the first day by the Society’s President, The Earl of Carnarvon, and Chairman, Brian Williams. The Earl was met by dignitaries including the Vice Lord-Lieutenant and High Sheriff of West Sussex.
Strolling around the many sections of the vast showground, HRH engaged with adults and children alike and enjoyed meeting livestock exhibitors, viewing the magnificent cattle parade and arena attractions. The Earl was particularly thrilled to meet young people from the Golden Lions Children’s Trust as well Scouts, West Sussex County Voluntary Youth Service, Young Farmers’ Clubs members and participants in the outstanding Young Craftsman of the Year Competition, which saw a record 200-plus entries.
The Earl presented Long Service Awards on behalf of the Society for continuous, uninterrupted service with the same farm or employer, for 43 years to Stephen Garman, of Great Bentley Farm, Uckfield, and for 52 years to Christopher Griffin, who is employed at Pallinghurst Farm in Rudgwick, West Sussex. HRH also presented Mary Masters from Piddinghoe, near Newhaven with the Society’s Fellowship Award for long and outstanding service.
Lord Carnarvon presented the 2011 Award of Honour for Hampshire & The Isle of Wight to Geoff Morgan for recognition of his steadfast commitment to farming.
A further award, the President’s Trophy, was presented by Lord Carnarvon on Saturday to Jamie Kirkman, forestry manager for Balcombe Estate. Jamie and his team were worthy recipients for their extensive support of the Show and the Society’s objectives. The Balcombe Estate’s Forestry and Sawmill section was congratulated for putting together an attractive and informative display in the Farming and Wildlife Area as well as for staging working demonstrations three times a day. The estate also contributes to the Society’s educational programme by hosting a visit from 100 school children every year.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Caroline Spelman MP, was one of many high profile visitors to this year’s Show. Mrs Spelman took time to offer reassurance to farmers that the Government was doing all it could to support the countryside and its workforce during the drought and to encourage water as well as environmental conservation. The Show also welcomed the Shadow Secretary of State, Mary Creagh MP, who toured the Show and its many agricultural exhibits.
Earlier, on Thursday the Show commenced with a welcome breakfast for dignitaries and the media, when the Society’s Vice Chairman William Goodwin spelled out the reality of the drought for livestock and arable farmers. Mr Goodwin, a dairy farmer with 700 cattle in Ardingly, said question marks hovered over whether this year farmers would be able to produce sufficient silage to overwinter their cattle or whether they would need to import food from the continent or even the US. Yet he also thought the drought was an opportunity for consumers to be reminded of one of the major commodities and issues that affected farming and food production. ’What I do disagree with is protecting the consumers from price increases,’ Mr Goodwin said.
Across the three days of the Show, as always, visitors were treated to a myriad of delights including hundreds of farm and domestic animals, horticultural exhibits and appealing livestock ’ especially calves piglets and lambs. The Society was thrilled by the increased number of entries throughout the competition categories this year and larger numbers of visits by school children.
Society Director Deborah Barber thanked all those who participated in the Show for their support and commented on the wonderful atmosphere that prevailed at all times. ’The South of England Show is a truly wonderful event and despite a few intermittent showers, visitor’s turned out in their thousands to demonstrate their support of agriculture and this countryside event,’ Deborah said.
’The three days of this year’s Show hosted a non-stop series of events and exhibitions by the region’s farming and rural communities. We are very grateful to them all for their support and dedication in ensuring the smooth running of this years’ Show.
