NEW BOSS FOR SHOW

If time permits a visit to June's Lincolnshire Show, you can always spy plenty of Brigg folk - there in a business capacity or merely as spectators.
My first introduction to this annual county event came while with the Brigg-based Lincolnshire and South Humberside Times 30 years ago, when we were required to report on who'd won what (best pigs, sheep, crafts, etc). We also carried very regular stories about the planning of the event during the winter and spring months, leading up to the big two days. One of the duties of the "duty corporal" sent into the office at 57 Wrawby Street every Saturday was to pen the Farming Notes for the following Friday's edition. The flow of very well-written press releases from the Lincolnshire Agriculural Society made this a much easier task. I think the letter-headed paper used for these updates (this was still the age of the typewriter) carried the name of society official Joe Skehel.
Once you've been to the Lincolnshire Show, it's habit-forming - so I was very disappointed to miss the 2010 event, having been made a working offer I just couldn't refuse on the North Bank.
We hope to make it to the 2011 show, which these days has a permanent home just north of Lincoln, off the A15. In decades past the event use to visit various venues round the old county, including Brigg.
A new President of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, which oversees the show, takes over on Thursday, January 6. A renowned academic figure who is committed to developing education and sustainability in agriculture, Professor David Chiddick (pictured), CBE, former Vice-Chancellor of Lincoln University, says it is a privilege to follow in the footsteps of other distinguished Presidents, who have included HRH Princess Anne and the Earl of Yarborough.
Married with three children, Professor Chiddick is now Emeritus Professor at Lincoln University. He is working with the Agricultural Society development committee to bring together the Society, University and other key partners to develop agricultural programmes in a way that best integrates education and community. He will also be focussing his attention on driving sustainability in agriculture, a vitally important theme for the Society.
His interest and involvement in agriculture dates back 20 years to his time as Pro Vice-Chancellor at De Montfort University, when he took the lead in rationalising the agricultural training on offer through the three sites in Lincolnshire – at Holbeach, Caythorpe and Riseholme. That process resulted in the consolidation of agricultural education at Riseholme and food sciences at Holbeach, providing a springboard for the college to become part of the new University of Lincoln in 2001 and Holbeach to achieve the distinction as the National Food Manufacturing Centre.
He said: “Education on the Showground site has expanded significantly over recent years, and now brings together agriculture, countryside and community with increasing involvement across higher and further education and amongst schools. Getting more young people involved in understanding the agricultural community in its broadest senses is crucial and we have the facilities to achieve that at the Showground.
“I grew up in an agricultural community in Norfolk and coming to Lincolnshire with its agricultural heritage was like coming home. I have been involved in the Farm Board in the county for the last 20 years and have seen major changes in agriculture during that time. As President, I am keen to see a successful County Show which drives these vital themes of education and sustainability in agriculture.”
The appointment come at an exciting time for the Society, following the publication of a recent economic impact survey which shows that a massive £44-million is being injected into the national economy thanks to the Lincolnshire Events Centre, which attracts over 215,000 visitors a year.
The Lincolnshire Events Centre is the Agricultural Society’s commercial operating arm and brings together agricultural, educational and conferencing activities.
The £7-million EPIC Centre at the Showground was opened two years ago, providing a conference and events facility, capable of hosting conferences, balls and seminars, and is designed also as an educational resource and state-of-the-art events centre for up to 1,900 people.
Environmental sustainability is at the core of these recent developments, and is a defining theme of a proposed master-plan now being drawn up for the Showground.
Also leading the Society during 2011 is John Lockwood, who continues in his role as Chairman for a third year. Master of the Burton Hunt and a former High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, he runs the family property company, Castle Square Developments, alongside the family farm.
The Lord Taylor of Holbeach, CBE, has been named President-Elect.
Brigg Blog will bring you further details of the 2011 event as the Society passes them on to us. So keep watching! The 127th event will be on Wednesday, June 22 and Thursday, June 23, 2011.
To find out more visit use this link LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW

Brewery boss Tom Wood - familiar to many Brigg Blog followers for his connections with the Yarborough Hunt, in Bridge Street - seen at the Lincolnshire Show where he launched a new range of bottled water from his famed Melton Ross spring.