AS all roads across the north east and beyond led to Wolsingham on Saturday, very few people realised the tremendous effort that went into making it happen.
As always, the show can’t work without many, many hands on deck with the majority being unpaid volunteers who do it for the love of England’s Oldest Show but this year was even more outstanding when a mini hurricane hit the Dale on the Friday. Never before scenes were witnessed with two marquees bearing the brunt of winds so high, it was difficult to even stand up. Through the night, the volunteers and the Fletcher Marquees workforce toiled to make it safe for visitors and to repair no only the damage but the chaos inside too. And so, the crowds, completely unaware queued up Harperley Banks to get in – and they weren’t disappointed! What a show it was!
For the price of a takeaway meal, they were treated to a plethora of entertainment around the huge showground – so much, it was difficult to know where to start. The Fur and Feather marquee was full to bursting point of entries with the crowds marvelling at the rare breeds in particular but if larger animals were your preference, there were dogs galore, equine classes all day long and, of course, as it is an agricultural show, the various cattle and sheep classes as well as goats. The tractors – both new and vintage were a draw too, lining up near to the vintage caravans, complete with a Teddy Bears’ Picnic.
County Councillor Anita Savory had kick-started the entertainment by holding her much-awaited ‘Ladies Day’ on the Friday while the work was going on all around outside. Hundreds of ladies from around the area enjoyed this event, which included a talk by Rookhope’s Kevin Roddam on his work in helping the good folk of Ukraine in their fight against Russia. The enormous amount of work and planning that goes into this event is outstanding.
All the while, The Eldiss Family were on the Live Music stage, providing entertainment enough for some to even take to the grass and dance. On a completely different ‘note’, the Ferret World Display was taking place in another area of the ground near to the Giant Tortoises, which the children found fascinating. The Elite Strangman/Woman event was a huge draw as was the 3Sixty Bicycle Stunt Team, performing while children and adults flew overhead on a very high zip-line!
The fairground was busy, screams from the Ghost Train echoing across the area with a feel of excitement in the air. Hot and cold food stalls everywhere lining up alongside many charity stalls, including Rookhope’s Kevin Roddam, raising money to fund his Humanitarian trips to Ukraine. And the Weardale Open Air Pool volunteers raising money to bring it back in time for next Summer.
For many, it is a time when whole families get-together and enjoy seeing friends they haven’t been in contact with since last year’s show. This is the essence of the Weardale Shows and it couldn’t happen without many hands on deck, not only in pre-preparation but throughout the whole weekend.
Four generations of the Walker family from Satley.
The marquees were full of stalls and people, including the Industrial Tent where families who had planned their entries all year round now displayed them with the hope of winning a ticket and prize money – the children eager for the judges to finish their thankless task. Inside this marquee, the Ladies Committee had worked especially hard, including Francine Moralee, who has had a recent knee replacement. It didn’t deter her from a 12 hour day, aided by two walking sticks she continued unabated. Well done to you all – it wouldn’t a show without THAT particular marquee for many families for whom it is the highlight.
Francine at work…
The show committee as a whole are to be congratulated, especially in light of the atrocious winds the day before, for putting on a show that certainly had something to suit every taste. This article has mentioned some of the Saturday entertainment but it would need a book to describe everything, including such attractions as the Harness Racing, the sheepdogs, Falconry displays, Carriage Driving classes, the cooking demonstrations in the Artisan Food tent, the sawmill demonstration, tractor pulling, gun dog displays, vintage cars and motorbikes, dry stone-walling demos and the endless trade stalls, not to mention the hugely interesting Houghall Tent – and so much more.
What a day, thank you to everyone involved. Truly a Herculian effort.
AND THERE IS MORE TODAY – GO ALONG NOW!!
TWO PICTURES OF COUSINS, OLIVER AND JESSICA TAKEN TEN YEARS APART:
