THE NEWBURY AND DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY NEWS

Newbury and District Agricultural Society elect new President and Chairman for 2012

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:44:00 GMT

Ian Nutt and Tom Copas have been appointed as the new Chairman and President of the Newbury & District Agricultural Society for 2012.

The appointments were made at the society’s recent annual general meeting.

Ian Nutt who has lived in Berkshire all of his life and is Managing Director of agricultural firm Lister Wilder, said: “Having been attending the show for well over 30 years, both for pleasure and business, it is a considerable honour to have been asked to become Chairman of the Royal Berkshire Show for 2012. “This is a team effort – the show would not be possible without the support and backing of the show office and many members of the society who put in so much hard work and dedication to bring the public and farming community such a great event each year.

“Having been involved with the agricultural industry and local farming community for many years, with a family connection to farming, I strongly believe it is important to keep the emphasis on agriculture, whilst recognising the need to provide an entertainment value for the many supporters of the show”

Tom Copas, who is a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies (FRAgS), is Senior Partner of The Copas Partnership, a family-run business, based in Cookham Dean and Henley, in the heart of the Thames Valley. The family started farming in 1906 and today the farm is one of the UK’s largest producers of high quality Christmas turkeys as well as operating entertainment facilities during Henley Royal Regatta, playing host to the 80s Rewind Festival and holding a portfolio of high quality offices and storage units.

Tom said: “It is a great honour to be President of The Newbury & District Agricultural Society - I have long admired the energy of the Society which has achieved so much. My wife Brenda and I look forward to joining that success in what I am sure will be a historic and memorable year for us all.”

Tom has chosen The Air Ambulance and RABI as his designated charities for 2012.

The annual Royal County of Berkshire Show will be held over the weekend of 15^th-16th September 2012. Tickets will be on sale shortly.

Planning Permission Update

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:44:00 GMT

Today (September 7^th) West Berkshire District Council resolved to approve planning permission to Newbury & District Agricultural Society to build a permanent facility to host cattle at the Royal County of Berkshire Show, a relief road, a lake and a new equestrian manege. The resolution of approval will be forwarded to the District Planning Committee who will make a formal decision. This is likely to be taken in October.

Simon Carter, Board member of Newbury & District Agricultural Society, said “We are delighted that West Berkshire District Council have resolved to approve our planning application. This development is key to the continued success of the Agricultural Society, the education programme that it provides and The Royal County of Berkshire Show.”

The new building will provide better welfare for the 500 plus livestock at the show and will give a weather proof facility for schools coming to the showground for the year-round educational programme as well as ensuring that Royal County of Berkshire Show retains its status as one of the top agricultural shows in the country. The County Show generates millions of pounds of turnover in the local economy bringing economic advantage to the area and attracts a huge number visitors to West Berkshire. The development also reflects the strong influence agriculture plays in West Berkshire. The road will ease traffic congestion problems during Show time, the lake will provide a new wildlife environment in the showground which will in turn develop the schools programme and will provide water for irrigation purposes. Finally, the equestrian manege will provide an outstanding facility for local individual riders and charitable equestrian societies.”

Should planning be approved by the District Planning Committee, building will start in autumn 2011 and it is proposed that the first phase (the permanent structure) will be completed in time for the September Show in 2012.

Local Competition Results

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:37:00 GMT

Click below to see the results from the Local Competitions

Local%20Competition%20Results%20July%202011.pdf

Building Application

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:35:00 GMT

The Newbury and District Agricultural Society have been in need, for some time, of a new building in which to show cattle and to provide a facility for use during the remainder of the year.

Read about our plans here and support us if you can!

http://publicaccess.westberks.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=LMSAENRD01V00

Chairmans Blog

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:22:00 GMT

I hope you all like the new website and find navigation easy, but please if you have any problems finding anything or if you think we have missed items do let us know through the office 01635 247111.

Events since my last entry have certainly been increasing, on 4^th June in glorious early summer weather around 200 members and friends gathered at Englefield House courtesy of Mr & Mrs Richard Benyon for the annual Summer Party, who also gave permission for anyone there to look round the gardens of the house, we had laid on a tractor with trailer to save walking up the hill!

I tried hard to speak to everyone there during the evening, if I missed anyone, my apologies, it was great to see so many friends old and new and especially to see Janet Scull widow of my first boss and Past Chairman of the Show, Ivor, and I was not alone in being thrilled she had been able to attend.

Special mention here must be made of my successor Ian Nutt and his team on the Events Committee who pulled out all of the stops to ensure the evening was such a success, thank you all for all of the hard work.

Over the same weekend we had a stall at the always popular West Woodhay Garden Show, and what a difference a day made to the weather, Saturday was bathed in sunshine, Sunday drenched with rain, but again so good to see so many of you there and again huge thanks to the team who manned the stall over the weekend.

Since then we have held 2 very successful Education events, firstly the Final of the Schools Farming, Sustainability and Environmental Challenge, held again this year at Sheepdrove, Lambourn, to whom we extend very grateful thanks for hosting the event and feeding us all.

And what wonderful efforts all 8 of the schools who entered had made, making it one of the hardest days judging any of us had ever taken part in. After presentations individually to the Judges in the morning, the schools then made presentations to both the judges and other schools and attending staff, before the judges went to deliberate.

Judging took a long time, but eventually, Trinity School were confirmed as the winners , and will receive their trophy on Sunday morning at The Show in September, all of the school s who took part confirmed how much each and every one of the pupils who had taken part had enjoyed the challenge and were all eager to take part again next year.

The most recent event was the Schools Potato Challenge Harvesting day and again 8 schools arrived at the Showground in glorious sunshine with their 2 sacks of potatoes which they planted several months ago during part one of this event.

This time judging was much easier as the results were based on the weight of the crops. Every school had done their very best and St Marks Cold Ash ran out the winners with Purley Infants in second, again each school received a certificate for their participation and again everyone said how much they enjoyed it.

The latter part of June has been very busy with the judging of crops and the Farm competition, thanks to all of the judges and the drivers, all of the results will be made public in the usual presentation ceremony following the Harvest Festival Service at this year`s show again on Sunday, 18^th September.

Our first ever trip to Highgrove home of the Prince of Wales was at the very end of the month and a super time was had by all, if you missed out on this trip and I know we had a long reserve list, the great news is that we have been able to organise a second visit in October, for full details and to book tickets please don`t delay but contact the office today 01635 247111, you will not be disappointed.

Since acquiring Highgrove in 1981, HRH Prince of Wales has transformed the gardens, and indeed it is according to our excellent guide a never ending scene of change, nothing is wasted, and the contrast between different areas is magical, I am afraid photography is not permitted in the gardens so you will just have to take my word for it, and book up without delay for the trip in October, as always full details from the office, 01635 247111,...you will not be disappointed I can assure you.

And so into July, we will be at the Wiltshire Show July 9^th & 10^th at Barbury Castle just outside Marlborough and will also be in the Newbury Carnival Procession on Sunday July 10^th, see if you can spot us, I will be at the Wiltshire County Show that day so if you spot the pink pig again, last seen at the pancake race in Newbury, this time it won`t be me!!!!

Our Farm Walk this year is a double visit to Doves Farm Ham and then tea at Buttermere, courtesy of Messrs Marriage and Hine and as with all of our events so far this year the response has been fantastic and we are already overbooked but have arranged a reverse trip with parties starting at each Farm and then swapping over so if you haven`t booked do so now, ring 01635 247111 for full details, or email office@newburyshowground.co.uk, or if you are passing please call in.

As the clock on the new website shows we are rapidly approaching the Show in September and advance tickets are already available

Alan Pooles

Show Chairman

Sheep Shearing with Nigel Wernham

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:31:00 GMT

Shearing requires skill to shear efficiently and quickly without causing harm to sheep or shearer, they are usually shorn once a year in late spring, early summer.

It’s important to shear to;

v Stop the sheep overheating in the warmer weather

v Farmers sell the wool that is shorn to make clothing and materials

v A heavy fleece on a sheep makes it very hard for them to move around easily

v When a sheep’s fleece overgrows it can drag along the ground which can increase the risk of fly strike

v Shearing keeps the stained wool separate from the new fleece growth

We visited our Agricultural Chairman Nigel Wernham at Chieveley Manor to film him showing us the step by step shearing process. We filmed him as he showed us the main techniques used for successful shearing. Watch the video below to see Nigel in action...

CLICK HERE : http://youtu.be/EdJ0ILDd6EU

Forthcoming Events

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:04:00 GMT

Vist the Show Tradestand at the Wiltshire Country Fair at Barbury Horse Trials on the 9th & 10th of July . Come along and see us to find out all about this years show and everything happening in the Society!

The Society will also be taking part in the Newbury Carnival the same weekend, the carnival parade starts at 2pm on Sunday July 10th, see if you can spot us!

Rogation Service May 2011

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:55:00 GMT

Members enjoyed a gentle walk around Lower Farm, Newbury for the rogation service in May The Society Chaplin led the service and was followed by tea by the trout lake. The Wantage Silver Band provided the musical accompaniment A collection was made for the Berkshire Blind – the chosen charity of the year

Chairman's blog

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:56:00 GMT

June already, and this year our prayers at our Rogation gathering on May 22nd were to both welcome in Spring and also to pray for some rain to help the crops withering in the farmers` fields.

Our Rogation gathering and service this year was held at Lower Farm Newbury, as Reverend John Townend remarked in his address, a different setting to previous years, we could see the old farm house and buildings converted to dwellings a few years ago, the gravel stockpile the fruit of the ground, extraction has now ended and the site of the most recent extraction will be restored to a lake alongside those already there.

Although the restoration of the existing lakes only took place a few years ago, already nature has taken the site back with a vengeance, where once there was a huge hole in the grounds, fields are now found with cattle grazing peacefully, all breeds of water fowl were seen and as we drove into the Car Park a deer jumped up out of the long grass and ran round the lake.

The Sunday was perfect except for near gale force winds which made the job of holding the lesson sheets very difficult and for the Wantage Silver band their job of carrying large heavy instruments ever more difficult. A lovely service was conducted by Rev John Townend with readings by the President Malcolm Bull, his 7 year old granddaughter, myself as Chairman of the Show and Vice Chairman Ian Nutt, followed by a huge tea in a marquee alongside 1 of the lakes, a beautiful setting to end a lovely afternoon, my thanks to Mike Bissell, Becky and all the ladies who helped prepare the tea.