The Melplash Agricultural Society welcomes Simon Wakely as our new Chairman of the Society for 2025/26.  Simon has been the Vice Chairman for the last two years, working alongside the 2023/4 Chairman, Philip Hardwill.

Simon Wakely is a Director at A J Wakely & Sons Funeral Directors, a fourth generation family business that was established in 1897 in Broadwindsor by Ernie Wakely.  The business has been intrinsically linked to the local area ever since.   Starting as wheelwrights, gate makers and makers of coffins they offered funeral services for members of their rural community.  Simon’s grandfather, Jack Wakely, worked for his father and uncle in the business as well as having a number of other jobs including being a publican and running the Crown pub which was in North Street Beaminster.  In 1967 he purchased a small funeral business in Bridport and dedicated his time to growing the business.  In 1972, his son David, and Simon’s father, gave up working for local farmers to join the family firm.  Further offices were opened in Dorset and Somerset.  Simon joined the business in 1993, managing the teams from Bridport and overseeing offices in West Dorset and East Devon.

Simon was born and raised in Beaminster where he has always taken an active role in the community both as a long term member of Beaminster Young Farmers including taking on the role of Chairman, and as a sportsman – playing cricket, squash, hockey and skittles!  Simon commented, ‘Joining Beaminster Young Farmers and playing skittles were the best things I ever did.  I have made life-long friends, many of whom are of course farmers”.   Simon has also spent twenty-five years in the Bridport Round Table.

‘If you live locally and are part of the rural community, the Melplash Show is a significant event in the calendar.  It is not only the chance to see the best of agriculture on show but is also an important social event, a chance to catch up with friends, to discover what is happening in the area as well as the latest developments.  I have been involved on the fringes of the Society for many years and Wakely’s are long term sponsors.  Over the last two years as Vice Chairman I have been fortunate to work with the Chairman, Philip Hardwill who I cannot thank enough for all the help and advice he has given me.  This responsibility has given me the opportunity to learn more about the work of our local farmers, I have always had great respect for them, but I now have renewed respect.  It is very clear that the support that the Society gives to them and to educating the younger generations about the role of farming is invaluable to all our futures.  With farming facing so many uncertainties and challenges it is more important than ever that the work of the Society is maintained for the future and that the messages that we convey are relevant and connect with everyone.  I very much look forward to working alongside the Board of Directors, the volunteers who run the different sections of the show and make them happen, and the new Vice Chairman, James Bowditch, an honest and progressive farmer who I’m sure will keep us all focused and on our toes!”