Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6NW T 01684 584900 E [email protected] W threecounties.co.uk Registered charity no 511868 @3CountiesShows @MalvernShows ANNUAL REVIEW 2019Venue Hire Peter Dowle, Leaf Creative, The Leaf Creative Garden: A Garden of Quiet Contemplation, RHS Gold Medal & Best Show Garden 2019 CONTENTS 4 Review of 2019 by the Chairman of Council and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees 5 Review of 2019 by the Chief Executive and an Introduction to our New President 6 Royal Three Counties Show 7 CountryTastic, National Young Stars and Farming Conference 8 RHS Malvern Spring Festival 9 Malvern Autumn Show 10 Three Counties Championship Dog Show, Malvern Caravan Show and Dates for your Diary 11 Education 12 Venue Hire 13 Accounts 14 Reference and Administrative Information 2019, Principle Committees 2020 15 AGM Agenda 2020, Nomination Form for Council Election 2020 Alstroemeria in bloom, RHS Malvern Spring Festival Floral Marquee Welcome to Three Counties Agricultural Society's Review of 2019 Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal A message from the Patron of Royal Three Counties Show I am very pleased that during 2019, Three Counties Agricultural Society has continued to go from strength to strength. The weather was challenging at this year’s shows, particularly at Royal Three Counties Show, nonetheless the events continued without major disruption and that is a credit to the Society Council, sta and team of volunteers. Whatever the conditions, staging predominantly outdoor events is a feat of organisation and planning and 2019 illustrates the point very well that, with teamwork and determination, most things are possible. Three Counties Agricultural Society pays tribute to retiring members of Society Council in bestowing Honorary Life Governorships. I would like to add my appreciation for their service in furthering the work of the Charity. This year four members retire from Council with a combined service of 74 years - Martin Hoskins, Henry Marfell, Robin Pearce and Michael Warner. They have each given their time freely and generously to the Society, none more so than Michael Warner who has served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and of RHS Malvern Spring Festival. I know that their contribution to the Society will continue in dierent ways in their new roles. I wish you all a very successful year in 2020 for both Royal Three Counties Show and Three Counties Agricultural Society. The Society is grateful for the support of HRH The Princess HRH The Princess Royal in 2018 with (l-r) Roger Head OBE DL, Royal (pictured here at Royal Three Counties Show 2016) Matthew Lindsey-Clark and Michael Warner 3 Free tickets for under 16s were introduced in 2019. To mark this and Hereford’s year as host county, show ambassador Adam Henson and Hereford Bull, Ronaldo, joined students from Hereford Cathedral School to launch 2019’s show. With thanks to the Bounds Herd and handler Tom Manns for Ronaldo’s appearance. REVIEW OF 2019 BY THE CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL It is, as always, a privilege to be introducing the 2019 Annual Review. I hope the following pages will give you an insight into the many and diverse activities that the Showground offers and remind you of memorable visits to the events you may have supported. Our own “in-house” shows and events this year carried the usual fantastic flare despite the somewhat challenging weather conditions that 2019 threw our way. However, the overriding factor was that the infrastructure in which we have invested enabled all events to carry on; Royal Three Counties Show typifying this resilience, spirit and determination to proceed. Thanks and appreciation for hard work can never be exaggerated and I extend gratitude to everyone connected to the Society, in particular the hard-working 2019 President Mrs Helen Thomas DL and her husband Elliot, as well as the numerous officials, volunteers, trustees, staff and supporting public who all combine to make the Society so successful. Clive C Roads FLAA Clive Roads FLAA, Chairman of Council REVIEW OF 2019 BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES In 2019, mixed results have demonstrated how weather dependent our activities are, and how limited our market access is. Broadening our offering has been one of the Board’s objectives, and we have decided to implement the woodland lodges project ourselves in order to maximise the Society’s benefit. We anticipate commencing work in early 2020, with operations beginning in 2021. I am also delighted to report we secured significant areas of land at auction, to be used by the Society for its events. We anticipate completion in early 2020. Our development plans and land acquisition has meant that we will defer development of a link building between Avon and Wye Halls, but it remains a core focus. As ever, I would like to pay tribute to all staff and our Chief Executive, who have worked tirelessly through a difficult year. Of note is our shows team, who have performed exceptionally well. Chris Bailey, Chairman of the Board Chris Bailey of Trustees 4 REVIEW OF 2019 BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE 2019 was a year of mixed fortunes for the Society, with highly successful shows and challenging weather conditions. Our first major show of the season, RHS Malvern Spring Festival – partnered with the Royal Horticultural Society – was for me our best yet. The show's Chelsea Flower Show-style glamour along with our spectacular Malvern Hills backdrop resulted in record attendance. Sadly, rain at Royal Three Counties Show and high winds at Malvern Autumn Show that led to an early closure produced a huge dent in the year’s financial return. However, previous drainage work and the resilience of everyone involved meant that the shows went on. Outside of our shows are exciting developments for the Society, with a vital land purchase adjacent to the Showground and a change of direction of our holiday lodges development in Langdale Wood, which will take priority over the previously planned ‘link’ building. Once again, I extend my thanks to the hard work of all our committees and none more so than the Three Counties Championship Dog Show and Equine sections, who continue to deliver outstanding contributions to the Society. The staffing team must also be recognised for their dedication and hard work, as well as the Board of Trustees and Council Members for their expertise and benefaction towards our great organisation. Ken Nottage Chief Executive, Ken Nottage AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR NEW PRESIDENT Raised in Hertfordshire, The Rt Revd Rachel Treweek originally enjoyed an illustrious career working as a paediatric speech specialist. Her life with the church began in ordained ministry in 1994, working her way up to become Archdeacon in Northolt, then Hackney, in July 2011. Bishop Rachel has made history with a number of firsts, notably when she was made the first female diocesan Bishop in the Church of England for Gloucester, then the first female Bishop in the House of Lords in October 2019. We’re incredibly excited to have Bishop Rachel on board as President in 2020. The Rt Revd Rachel Treweek Bishop of Gloucester 5 14-16 June 2019 This year’s Royal Three Counties Show was as exciting a spectacle as ever, despite the efforts of the weather to dampen spirits. With Herefordshire hosting this year’s event, we welcomed many • Rare and Minority Breeds Show Champion of Champions: of the county’s businesses to the Show, creating a bustling hub of a British Landrace gilt, Prestcombe Cordelia 18, from Alice activity for over 90,000 visitors alongside several local celebrities Newth, Prestleigh, Somerset. who joined us in the Wellington Boot Theatre. • Cuddy Supreme in Hand: a Hack Brood mare, The Power The new ‘Business Hub’ was well received on the Friday with of Love, from Mrs Vicky Smith, Newmarket, Suffolk. reports of excellent speakers on the topic of ‘The Future of Food.’ Our trade stands appreciated the hard work from the Estate Interactive audiences included school children, who raised many Team in ensuring all areas were accessible and the wet weather interesting questions on the topic of sustainability. equipment vendors reported brisk business. The Best in Show The main arena programme was altered where necessary due Trade Stand Award was presented to Meadows Farm Vets. to the rain occurrences, but we were delighted that the With 3,000 school children and 1,000 Scouts and Guides Grand Parade of Livestock took place each day. This was attending the show, the importance placed by the Society on wonderfully supported by our exhibitors, who ensured that education was certainly evident to all. Workshops and worksheets rain did not stop play! proved very popular and we thank all those who volunteered to With record entries of sheep and goats, together with buoyant host these. pig, cattle, poultry and equine sections, the judging rings were kept incredibly busy throughout the Show and produced the With thanks to our headline partner JCB, following champions: Henry Stephens of QXE Industries and our key partners: • Interbreed Beef Cattle: an Aberdeen Angus cow, Rodmead Bonnie Lass S774, from Mr Angus Neish, Warminster, Wiltshire. • Interbreed Dairy Cattle: a Jersey cow, Olympic Response Belladonna, from M & J Robertson, Bristol. • Interbreed Sheep: a Suffolk yearling ewe from Tom and Aimee Mogford, Tiverton, Devon. • Interbreed Pig: a British Lop sow, Bezurrell Actress 374, from Giles Eustice, Hayle, Cornwall. The daily Grand Parade of Livestock is a highlight of the show Adam Henson, show ambassador, with a Wensleydale sheep Jimmy Doherty, president of the Rare Alpacas were one of the more unusual The Parachute Regiment Freefall Team, Helen Thomas DL, president of Three Breeds Survival Trust, enjoyed the show animals competing at the show The Red Devils, dropped in with the Counties Agricultural Society 2019 with Adam Henson flag of our headline partner, JCB 6 18 April 2019 A fun-filled family event, giving youngsters a hands-on insight into farming life.