Royal showground

[David.]

Perhaps better stop guessing before somebody is libelled, too late now, they should have been pelted with rotten fish at the time.
Perhaps it was just symptomatic of an industry that was changing, the death of so many small farms, decimation of the number of pig and dairy producers, remaining small farms surviving by going contract farming with big operators, etc.
If nobody wants a new abreast parlour or 3 furrow plough, what was the point displaying them?

 

[Martin Holden]

Charles Runge ?

Think the Dairy units last manager was Derek Devine or something like that

 

[PostHarvest]

If I recall correctly, the last pig unit manager was Keith Thornton. Very good man.
In the mid 1980's, a colleague applied for the job of Royal Show marketing manager. At his interview he was told that the Show was a social event similar to Henley Regatta, a day out in the countryside for the urban masses, and a place where farmers could enjoy themselves. He asked what about the trade show side of things, showcase for British Agriculture etc. and was told that is incidental. Seems that he told the interviewer they were crackers and for some reason wasn't offered the job.
I remember one bowler hatted "toff" who went under the title "show director" and spent his time riding around the showground in an old Alvis or similar with a big badge on the roof saying show director and giving royal waves to the unwashed masses.

 

[JP1]

I tried talking to the new Management at the Royal / Haymarket as a I knew some of them. Of course Haymarket is B2B rather than B2C but I tried (with their tie up with BBC Haymarket Good Food Show Live etc) to get them to create a BBC Countryfile Live show within show. They said it would never fly. As did Peter Phippen MD of Origin Publishing the magazine partner of the BBC when a Countryfile Magazine was suggested

I went to see them personally . Made no difference.

Another wasted opportunity (and yes, both now exist)

 

[Suffolk Serf]

If I recall correctly, the last pig unit manager was Keith Thornton. Very good man.
In the mid 1980's, a colleague applied for the job of Royal Show marketing manager. At his interview he was told that the Show was a social event similar to Henley Regatta, a day out in the countryside for the urban masses, and a place where farmers could enjoy themselves. He asked what about the trade show side of things, showcase for British Agriculture etc. and was told that is incidental. Seems that he told the interviewer they were crackers and for some reason wasn't offered the job.
I remember one bowler hatted "toff" who went under the title "show director" and spent his time riding around the showground in an old Alvis or similar with a big badge on the roof saying show director and giving royal waves to the unwashed masses.

I think that Keith Thornton was earlier. Bernard Peet followed and Chris Franklin? was the last.
Bernie is now based near Red Deer, Alberta.

 

[stirdup]

Looking at the details of the R.A.S.E. as a charity they look to be small beer in terms of operations particularly compared with their history. Without trying to be unkind it appears to an ordinary farmer to be a formerly august organization looking for a role in the modern world. I don't think this is uncommon with charities.
I wonder if giving out awards and medals to the worthy is the best thing they could do.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

The show was losing money for years so why was nothing done to stop this

 

[Campbell]

I thought the last show was in 2007 ?

IIRC. The last four day show was 2006. Two day show after that, but 2007 second day was cancelled due to rain...........

 

[endeavour]

Before any one tries to make comparisons between RASE and RWAS and their records be aware that Walters Welsh people (every one who lives and cares about Wales) raise massive amounts off money every year through the Host/sponsor county scheme and this has been used to enhance/improve facilities at what is the finest natural showground in Europe. Why do this? because we are proud of Wales and the quality food it produces and want to show it to the world.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Before any one tries to make comparisons between RASE and RWAS and their records be aware that Walters Welsh people (every one who lives and cares about Wales) raise massive amounts off money every year through the Host/sponsor county scheme and this has been used to enhance/improve facilities at what is the finest natural showground in Europe. Why do this? because we are proud of Wales and the quality food it produces and want to show it to the world.

Not wanting to knock the royal welsh but “the finest natural show ground in Europe “ surely involves a bit of poetic licence.

 

[endeavour]

If you have got it sell it!!!

 

[texas pete]

Before any one tries to make comparisons between RASE and RWAS and their records be aware that Walters Welsh people (every one who lives and cares about Wales) raise massive amounts off money every year through the Host/sponsor county scheme and this has been used to enhance/improve facilities at what is the finest natural showground in Europe. Why do this? because we are proud of Wales and the quality food it produces and want to show it to the world.

And that, or the results of that is why one show exists and the other does not. Can do, rather than can't do/can't change/can't lift our heads out of our arses and see the world is changing.

 

[SilliamWhale]

The RASE could do something different though couldn't they?

There was nothing stopping them developing a Groundswell was there? Or a Croptec on a regional basis etc...

There are lots they could do as a society to promote innovate agricultural and marketing techniques if they wanted. Years ago a "big show" was a way of developing new ideas. Its not so much the case now but there are other ways

 

[dan 6170r]

 

[JP1]

Before any one tries to make comparisons between RASE and RWAS and their records be aware that Walters Welsh people (every one who lives and cares about Wales) raise massive amounts off money every year through the Host/sponsor county scheme and this has been used to enhance/improve facilities at what is the finest natural showground in Europe. Why do this? because we are proud of Wales and the quality food it produces and want to show it to the world.

Not only do you do that but it's a matter of pride when each County hosts / sponsors and for those of us not living in your Principality it also assists us to get an indepth appreciation of your great country