I was pleased that we improved the fast food outlets by using retailers which sourced the food as locally as possible. This raised both the quality and the service and has been a success.

We have effected some refinements in the layout of the Show Field and we have done some work on improving the roadways and gateways, but there is more to do on this front.

(From Left) Mr George Rendell [past Chairman 2008/9] Mr Marcus Beresford CBE [new President], Mrs Annie Crutchley [past President [2009], Mr Nigel Jones[new Chairman]

The 'By the Sea' marquee was a spectacular innovation and I hope that it will grow in the coming years. We must thank Val Jones for this brainwave.

The Bursary has grown in popularity and we already have a waiting list for next year. As this year seems to have been financially successful, I hope that we shall be able to honour our original commitment to this scheme.

Improved sponsorship has been very important to our success. Much work has been done to promote sponsorship opportunities and this effort must be maintained. Better programmes, new signs and more punchy advertising have all helped and I hope that Kathy can continue to push the marketing forward.
 
The Show this year was brilliant. All the Sections are driven by really enthusiastic Chairpersons and without exception they achieved high standards. Entries were good across the board and we had perfect show weather. The attendance was the highest for a long time.

There were some problems which are already being addressed for next year. Notably these were the fact that the Main Ring entertainment seemed to peter out too quickly and the difficulties experienced by people as they tried to leave the car parks.
 
The other events throughout the year are all immensely enjoyable. There was the Dinner Dance early in the year and then the Gardens, Flocks, Farms and Young Farmers Stock Judging competitions. Just before the Show there was the Lamb Dinner and shortly after the Show we held the Hedging and Ploughing Matches. All the Stewards and Judges for these events put a huge amount of work into them and they should be really proud of what they achieved.

In the future, there will be a re-vamp of the Membership benefits and fees. There will be a solution to the traffic situation. There may be a new format to the Dinner / Dance. There will be a younger Board. [At this point, I must pay special tribute to the huge amount of highly valued input from two retiring Board members, namely Jeff Chattin and Sir John Colfox. Their wisdom and counsel will be much missed - but we know where they live if we need to seek their advice.] Audits are being carried out on how the Office and the Show are run. This, coupled with the impending retirement, after the Ploughing Match in 2010, of the Secrretary, gives us the chance to refine and modernise things even more. The process of replacing Anita, whose contribution to the success of the Society has been immense, has already begun. At the time of writing, thirty nine applicants have expressed an interest in the position and we hope to interview around the end of January.
 
There are many people to thank for the help that they have given me over the last two years. In the Office, Anita and Liz have been gracious in their suffering of my shortcomings and my nagging. Rupert Best and Annie Crutchley have been super Presidents to work with. The Board have worked very hard, as has Nigel Brown, in supporting me. I cannot praise too highly the Section Chairmen, without whose efforts the Show would not materialise. Don Townsend and his team are indispensable. Kevin Goodfellow always has the Showfield looking great even though the work that has to be done to it always needs doing when he is busy at home. The Norman family and Mike Gurd and Karen Pallister continue to allow us to use their fields without which we would have great problems. I extend heartfelt thanks to you all.
 
In closing, may I thank the Society for allowing me to serve as its Chairman. It has been both an honour and a privilege. I wish Nigel Jones, my successor, and the Society every success in the future.

George Rendell

Past Chairman (2008 & 2009)