JOURNAL 2015/16 Front Cover Pre-Show Press Day 2015. David Mouland and his single trade turnout. Welcome to the Journal here is a real energy around the Society at the moment and I believe that you Twill find the Journal an invaluable document to keep you up to date with all the exciting developments and positive changes that are cementing our reputation as England’s leading agricultural show and events organiser. We are continuing to issue the Journal in the depths of winter so that you can reflect on all those glorious summer images from 2015 and have time to absorb news about what you can expect at next year’s Royal Bath & West Show. We like to hear from members and readers, so please do email me with short anecdotes or interesting stories about your experiences at any of the events on the showground at [email protected] Rupert Uloth Hon. Editor Hon. Editor: Rupert Uloth Managing Editor: Paul Hooper OBE Co-ordinating Editor: Julie Kitching Designed by: Fielder Design Printed by: Philtone Litho Limited Contents President 2015/16 2 Regenerations & Development 36 Chairman’s review 3 The Hills to Levels Project 37 Chief Executive’s report 6 B&W Enterprises 38 Royal Bath & West Show 2015 10 The Society Board of Trustees 40 2015 entries 13 President, Chairman, Vice-Presidents, The Bath & West Showground, Showing sheep… a judge’s view 14 Members of Council 41 Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6QN Champions of the RB&W show 17 Trustees, Other Officials, Charity Number: 1039397 Permanent Staff, Life Governors 42 Draining the Levels 20 Company Number: 02931640 Royal Bath & West of England Show Grassland UK 2015 22 Stewards 43 Bath & West food and drink 2016 26 Royal Bath & West of England Society Stewards Q&A 28 Standing Committees, Show Committees 44 South Devon National Show 2015 31 Royal Bath & West of England Society The Society’s Bristol Show of 1931 32 Specialist Committees/Boards 46 The Dairy Show 2015 34 Acknowledgments 47 BCA Judges. The Wessex RFCA and their guests enjoy superb views of the show jumping in the main ring. Floral art display. www.bathandwest.com Journal 2016 1 President 2015/16 Michael Eavis CBE ichael Eavis, the founder of MGlastonbury Festival and Gold Cup Winning Dairy Farmer, is the new President of the Royal Bath & West of England Society. It has been a great privilege to be part of the team for a year… He took over the reins from Joint Presidents Lord and Lady Fellowes of West Stafford at the Society’s Council meeting at the Bath & West showground on Thursday 16 July 2015. Handing over their presidential badge of office, Lord and Lady Fellowes commented: “It has been a great privilege to be part of the team for a year, which has been an enormous pleasure. We have met wonderful people and have viewed the very best of great British agriculture and food. We wish this, one of the oldest agricultural societies in Britain, the very best for the future and we know that, with Michael at the helm, we leave it in safe hands.” Michael Eavis said “I am very much looking forward to the next year as President of The Royal Bath & West Society. I have fond memories of coming to the Blues Festival at the Showground and also the Bath & West Show. Being a dairy farmer I am looking forward to the Dairy Show in October”. Michael Eavis receives his badge of office from Lord and Lady Fellowes, the outgoing Presidents.. 2 Journal 2016 www.bathandwest.com Robert Drewett DL, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Chairman’s review hen you received last year’s Rupert has been quick to focus on the four key Review we were getting ready to areas of the Society’s operations – its shows, its W Sheep shearing in full flow. welcome Rupert Cox as our new Chief trading activities, its development plans and its charitable activities and to align resources to Executive. A year on I am glad to report these areas. that we have had no reason to regret busy year our decision – under the onslaught of 2015 was a busy year for the Shows team, Rupert’s unabated enthusiasm and drive since we staged Grassland UK in May. This the Society already feels a very different event only occurs every third year but is organisation to that he joined. an opportunity to show the best of grass management machinery and techniques in operation. Alan Lyons and Rachael …this has resulted in Hann worked hard with the Grassland UK Committee, led by Richard Calver and David A prize winning egg exhibit. some significant changes Sedgman, to lay on a first class event. A wet day the day before did not help preparations having been detained in London, and she took and innovation during but the day itself dawned bright and sunny, great interest in all the demonstrations and and continued to improve. A good crowd exhibits. As ever, such an event would not be the year. attended what is, effectively, a trade fair possible without the support of neighbouring and the traders and manufacturers were all farmers, and a particular thank you to Carrie Rupert has taken to the position like a positive. Amongst those attending was one of Dunford, on whose farm the bulk of the event duck to water. He feels a genuine passion our Presidents, Emma Fellowes, Julian sadly takes place. for the Society and, when coupled with first big test his background of farming and business The highlight of the Society’s year remains leadership, this has resulted in some the four days at the end of May. This was significant changes and innovation during Rupert’s first big test and he and the team did the year. So please forgive me if I spend some not disappoint. Between them they laid on a time to focus on Rupert – but I think that first class show with a large number of people is appropriate as I look back at his first year commenting on the quality way in which the in office. showground was presented. This attention to Rupert’s first task was to get to know his staff. detail was matched elsewhere in the content He spent time learning the role of each staff of the Show, where Alan Lyons and his team member. On the back of this he has re-defined delivered some first class competitions and many of the roles so that there is greater logic exhibits. It was pleasing that their hard work to them and a greater focus. This has meant was rewarded with good crowds. The Show some re-distribution of activities, where this year was celebrating 50 years at Shepton historic anomalies had arisen, but these have and was also the start of a trend to revitalise been achieved with the full support of the the showground and the activities carried staff and it is clear to me, on my visits to the out on it. I am very aware that what might Society’s offices, that there is a renewed spring have served in 1965 may no longer be so in the steps of all of the members of the team. relevant and hence why we have started a It was Rupert and the staff who planned the programme of reviewing and re-planning makeover of the offices, so that these are parts of the showground. In some cases these now much lighter and more airy than before, moves are quite radical, but after 50 years helped in part by the dictate that accumulated some refreshing is needed. We are mindful of paperwork should either be binned or sent the adage of not fixing those things that are not to the attic. This has meant some desk tops broke, but equally we believe that the time is have seen the light of day for the first time in right for a full review of the way in which we many years. run our Show. continued overleaf www.bathandwest.com Journal 2016 3 continued from previous page HRH The Countess of Wessex with the hamper presented to her, to mark her 50th Birthday. The Presidents open the show. And, as ever, the year culminated with them, with new roofs being fitted to both another successful Dairy Show. As well as the Mendip and Sedgemoor buildings. I can being attended by ever more trade stands and remember these buildings being erected soon visitors, one highlight is the Dairy Industry after the Society moved to Shepton Mallet Dinner, which takes place on the eve of the and so they have given good service. The Show. This year it was marvellous that a group new roofs will ensure that those renting the of local producers and processors should have buildings can enjoy a dry space – not an overly joined together to sponsor the evening – now demanding requirement but one that has been one of the highlights of the dairy industry. We challenging for the last few years. At the same are extremely grateful to them for taking the time the electrical substation has been over lead in this way. hauled and new boilers have been installed development programme in the Showering Pavilion to complement the existing bio mass boilers, so that in colder One of the reasons for this review is because months we can offer a building that is warm. we have, this year, seen the first step in the development programme materialise. This These improvements in infrastructure have has been on the cards for some time, but this been matched by a much greater focus on year the first 5 acre plot has been let on a long marketing of the facilities.