Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2010 | Page 88

interview

Island Life - August/September 2010

Photo: Secretary Rosemary Edwards (left) and Jay Shipley Vice President of The County Show

Plea goes out to ensure
County Show future

The County Show has been part of the

past 20 years, and has been honorary

Isle of Wight culture and history for

secretary for the past six years. She is

and put on a better show, which I

more than 100 years.

desperate to see the Show continue

think we did. Because we didn’t take

but fears that unless the farming

money on the gate, we don’t know the

expressed that unless new committee

community in particular lend their

attendance figures, but it was better

members step on board, new ideas

support the whole format may have to

than expected.”

are put forward and new sponsors are

change.

But now genuine concerns have been

found, the County Show could come
under severe threat of closure.

“We wanted to condense everything

The committee have already met

The County Show was held over two

to discuss next year’s event, and as

days for many years, but becaue of a

Rosemary points out: “We need to

That really is unthinkable, bearing

general decline in the livestock section

promote the animals and the country

in mind this year’s event, held on the

it was condensed to one day this year,

side of things a lot more. I don’t know

showground at Northwood in July, was

and that trend is set to continue.

why livestock numbers are down.

the 111th, despite it not being held

Rosemary explained: “It was just held

Maybe it’s because a lot of farmers are

during either the First or Second World

on the Sunday this year, and went

diversifying and are busy at this time of

War, as well as being cancelled several

extremely well. It has been over two

year with harvesting. But apart from the

times due to outbreaks of foot and

days in the past, but some people who

sheep, few of them bother to show. We

mouth disease.

used to come in on the Saturday tended

had no pigs and just a handful of cattle.

to think there wasn’t much there, which

In previous years we have had a grand

was fair comment.

parade and a lot of dairy cattle. All

Rosemary Edwards has been a County
Show committee member for the
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