OSWESTRY Show ‘is one of the best in the country, according to its chairman for 2024 David Kempster.
Thousands packed into Oswestry Showground in Park Hall for the 2024 event which saw, in David’s view, a return to pre-Covid levels of crowds supporting the show.
He admitted fears of another washout like 2023’s event had sat on his mind prior to the day, but said that his hardworking committee and volunteers, plus the trade stands and everyone else who contributed to its success, would be ‘well aware’ of why that hard work ‘was worth it’
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“We got what we’ve wanted for the last 12 months which is a lovely sunny day,” said David.
“The crowds have come to enjoy the show and we’re very grateful to them for that.
“All the hard work will be worthwhile this, I am sure.
“It’s looking like it’ll be back to pre-Covid levels with really good crowds and as a society, we’re really very pleased with that and with the day.
“This is the first time I’ve had chance to sit down and breathe all day – I’ve enjoyed it!
“I started my day at 6am and I sat down for the first time at 12pm but I spent a lot of the morning going around the trade shows, thanking them for coming.
“I was taking in all the hard work they have put in for the day and the effort they have put in for today is absolutely tremendous, for a one-day show.
“It always astounds me how much hard work they put in.
“And I have to thank the show committee too – they’ve all put in so much hard work – and we’ve been so supported by so many local companies as well.
“To me, that makes all the difference.
“And they don’t turn all ‘all ragged’ either, they turn up to make it a good day and we do have a trade stand competition which is fiercely-fought and that’s brilliant.
“But they do a lot of hard work on their trade stands to make them look the best they can.”
David paid tribute to everyone who puts the show at the top of the list for the year for the efforts they made to put the heavy rains of 2023 behind them.
He added: “Having an Oswestry Show trophy matters to a lot of people – the horticulture tent is brilliant and I think it’s one of the best in the country.
“A lot of work goes into it – more than 400 entries and the marquee is the largest on the showground, by far, and it’s full to the brim.
“I really do want to thank everyone who has come to support us today and all of the committees who have put all that hard work in.
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“While I wouldn’t say people were demoralised after last year’s rain, you do look at it and wonder why you put all that hard work in.
“Hopefully today, they will look at it and realise this is why we do all that hard work.”
I want to thank them all for it, plus all of the competitors and all of the trade stands who made it a very good show.
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