Herts County Show

The Herts County Show returned in full force in May. As High Sheriff I was invited to present awards to the trade stands and here is the story.

First we went to NFU Mutual whose stand was stuffed full of interactive things for children, then a glance at the pizza oven at the Herts Young Farmers and on to The Event Gallery Fine Art and Hamptons. A High Sheriff Award went to Herts Constabulary for their huge efforts to organise fun and instructive games for the children, although as always the police dog Mickey stole my heart. The County Council’s second hand and recycled furniture was sold off by auction, and what’s not to like when a fire engine is there to be crawled over! I enjoyed the fun foam bricks at Herts Building Control, the extensive produce at Riverford Organic Farmers and the colour at the 4 Acres nursery. Sarah’s Garden Collectables were unusual and on-trend with the “re-use old things” message. Finally first prize went to Michael Graham Estate Agents, who had gone to huge lengths to recreate a typical English scene with strawberries and cream, free fish & chips and a traditional red telephone box.

After a brief lunch with the Lord-Lieutenant Robert Voss and the Show’s Executive Director Sarah Moreland, there were many more events to watch and stands to see. We had to buy sausages from The Great British Sausage Co, it was good to catch up with my photographer David Macdonald and Penny Dudley with her handmade handbags, before an interesting stop at Rough Stuff who have set up a workshop in The Mount Prison where the prisoners make boards and other wooden products. Such an excellent initiative.

Somehow The Blue Tangerine Federation had managed to move their display from the Chelsea Flower Show overnight, where they had set up next to Electric Umbrella, who were keeping the crowds entertained with their very loud and very lively music! The Showground was full of other noteworthy stands, too many to mention here, but the common theme was how wonderful it was to be back.

The day drew to a close with a presentation of trophies, where I joined Lady Salisbury, President of the County Show, and the Lord-Lieutenant in the Jubilee arena. Presenting a cup to a cow was a definite highlight!