JOURNAL 2016/17 Front Cover Harry Stamp – Leading the champion Dorset Down which he showed through the classes and championship. A future addition to the Band. Welcome to the Journal ince the last Journal an awful lot has happened in the world and there is no Sdoubt that the referendum vote in favour of Brexit, and the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, will have a considerable impact on farming in Britain and life in the West Country. It is more important than ever that we put our best foot forward and the Royal Bath & West of England Society is superbly placed to demonstrate to our own countrymen and the world at large how good we are at producing superb food to the highest standards. The Journal is a window into the extraordinary range of activities we have been involved in this year and a reminder of why the Main Show, in particular, continues to be one of the best agricultural festivals in the country. Rupert Uloth Hon. Editor Hon. Editor: Rupert Uloth Managing Editor: Paul Hooper OBE Co-ordinating Editors: Jonathan Hall & Julie Kitching Designed by: Fielder Design Printed by: Philtone Litho Limited Contents President 2016/17 2 The Dairy Show 2016 34 Chairman’s review 3 Kick on to a new era 36 Chief Executive’s report 6 Cider judging 37 Royal Agricultural Society B&W Enterprises 38 of the Commonwealth 9 The Society Board of Trustees 40 Royal Bath & West Show 2016 10 President, Chairman, Vice-Presidents, The Bath & West Showground, 2016 entries 13 Members of Council 41 Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6QN The Mendip School 14 Trustees, Other Officials, Permanent Staff, Life Governors 42 Charity Number: 1039397 Champions of the RB&W Show 15 Company Number: 02931640 Royal Bath & West of England Show Field to Food Learning Day 18 Stewards 43 Superb Livestock 20 Royal Bath & West of England Society Innovation for Agriculture 22 Standing Committees, Show Committees 44 The Hills to Levels Project 24 Royal Bath & West of England Society Specialist Committees/Boards 46 How we ploughed our own furrow 26 Acknowledgments 47 Stewards Q&A 28 2017 Royal Bath & West Show A most zealous agriculturalist 32 outline layout changes Inside back cover Michael Eavis CBE. A heavy Horse with flights and mane roll. A Pig young handler. www.bathandwest.com Journal 2017 1 President 2016/17 Sir John Cave Bt Outgoing President Michael Eavis CBE (right) hands the badge of office to his successor Sir John Cave Bt. ir John Cave of Sidbury, Devon is He took over the reins from Michael Eavis and Entertainment. There were many Sthe new President of the Royal Bath CBE at the Society’s Council meeting at the highlights of the Show for me, including the & West of England Society. Bath & West Showground on Thursday 21 New Music area, the array of Livestock and July 2016. of course being made a pair of tweed shorts.” Handing over his presidential badge of office, I have thoroughly enjoyed being President …I look forward to Mr Eavis commented: “It has been a great and wish Sir John Cave a fantastic year.” privilege to be part of the team for a year. I Sir John said “I am very much looking forward attending the many thoroughly enjoyed the Dairy Show in 2015 to the next year as President of The Royal Bath Shows the Society as I am a very proud Dairy Farmer myself and & West Society. Agricultural Societies play a it was a great Show. major role in the Agricultural Industry and I showcases. This year’s Royal Bath & West Show was an look forward to attending the many Shows excellent display of Great British Agriculture the Society showcases.” 2 Journal 2017 www.bathandwest.com Robert Drewett DL, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Chairman’s review The Bath & West railway. suspect that for many of us one of the management look to be high up the agenda, as Idates that will stick in our minds is does the emphasis on food security and these 23 June 2016 and the decision by the themes, or whatever may replace them over the coming months, will bring added pressures nation to leave the European Union. for farmers. Change is never easy, but it seems From the point of view of the rural pretty clear that change is going to be required community this is likely to have far as a prerequisite to continued support from the reaching effects, both in terms of the tax payer. grants that may be available to farmers focused and also the implications for those Since 1777 the Royal Bath & West of England carrying on business. Society has been focused on assisting those involved with the management of land and the production of food. In the early days this took Change is never easy, the form of the Society’s Journal, which sought to give guidance to farmers as to how best to but it seems pretty clear improve productivity, and since 1852 in the form of its annual Show, where the opportunity that change is going to showcase the best stock and produce has existed. Latterly the Society has been able to to be required… act as a catalyst for change – no less so than in the lead that it took in seeking solutions to the It is too early to be able to say with any certainty flooding crisis in Somerset in 2013/14. how the exit negotiations will play out but it So the Society is looking forward to being able is clear that, whilst funding for farmers may to continue to support farmers, producers and Pinkster Gin in the Food & Drink area. be guaranteed until 2020, thereafter the end users in the coming years in providing way in which subsidies are provided will be a platform for research and advice as well the subject of considerable public scrutiny. as a shop window for all that is good in the Already conservation bodies have made clear South West rural economy. At this stage it is their views as to how funding should be judged, and there will be many more who join the continued overleaf fray. Based on comments to date, the need for ever greater diversification and environmental www.bathandwest.com Journal 2017 3 continued from previous page Starting young. Examining the hive in the Bee garden. too early to say what form such support might so well received, in particular the move of the take, but the Society is very alive to the need Village Green and related activities to the Main to provide that support in conjunction with Square and the focus of the food area onto the the other organisations that also do a great job old village green area. The introduction of both in supporting those engaged in enterprise of food halls here, as well as a large marquee whatever form. providing live music and seating and a plentiful charitable activities number of stands offering street food, delivered a festival type atmosphere to the area. Much In this respect the Society has focused this year of the credit for achieving this atmosphere on rejuvenating its charitable activities, and must go to our President, Michael Eavis, a man this is a welcome step forward, as is described who knows more about festivals than most. elsewhere in this publication – please see the He was a tremendous help to the team in the Chief Executive’s report. Equally the Society office in pointing them to the relevant suppliers has been taking an active role in supporting and bands who were able to help deliver this Innovation for Agriculture, a charity driven by transformation. Even more pleasing was the many of England’s agricultural societies, which universal approbation shown for these moves. aims to carry out and disseminate research It emphasised that, whilst we must not seek to into topical subjects. The focus at present is fix things that are not broken, we should not be on precision dairying and also effective soil frightened of some gentle reassessment of the management, and the Society is working with way in which shows are presented. IfA in relation to a specific project aimed at exit polls Pony Club games in the main ring. identifying more effective means of maize Another example of this was the decision to growing to prevent the large scale soil run off spread our livestock showing classes over that occurs all too often at present. 4 days. The Livestock committees are to be On a different note 2016 marked an important congratulated for driving through this change, point in the history of the Society’s time at and particular thanks are due to all those Shepton Mallet. Not only did the new Free exhibitors who supported the move. Again our School being constructed adjacent to Prestleigh exit polls show that this was certainly a big hit rise from the ground, but some radical changes with the public and so we will continue to look to the Showground layout were undertaken. to find ways to enhance our offering whilst In part these were as a result of the need to ensuring ample support for our exhibitors. prepare for the move of the equine section to I mentioned Michael Eavis earlier in this its new home but also reflected a realisation article. Michael proved to be a fully engaged that the Showground had retained its current and engaging President. A dairy farmer of layout for 50 years. How many other things in considerable repute, he took a keen interest life remain unchanged for that length of time? in all that he did but particularly enjoyed his It was reassuring that many of the changes were time in the stock lines.