IT IS with pleasure that I write following what has been a successful and fun Okehampton Show last Thursday (August 13.)

While I am sure the severe weather warnings and heavy rain elsewhere put some people off coming, I feel we were relatively lucky with the weather proving that it doesn’t always rain at Okehampton!

While the final hurdles, barriers and signs are put away for another year, I must as chairman thank everyone who made this year’s 108th Okehampton Show happen.

The list to thank is long — a show of this size takes a year’s worth of planning and would not be able to go ahead without the help of a loyal team of volunteers who give up their time to make the show happen and work so hard towards it. I thank this year’s president, Mark Wooldridge, for presiding over the show all his hard work for the Okehampton and District Agricultural Association.

Thanks to our directors and committee members who make up the association and who offer help and advice throughout the year, together with help setting up the show and who are a great support.

Thanks to the team of Claire and Rachel in the show office who co-ordinate the running of the show and each of the section secretaries who work so hard to make their own section a success.

We had a tremendous number of animals on site and it is no easy task ensuring their safe arrivals and departures and all the secretaries and stewards make this work so smoothly. Thanks to our kind farmers and landowners who allow us the use of their fields for the day. Thanks also to the local organisations who get involved and help — the Okehampton Rotary Club, St John’s Ambulance, North Park Vets, the doctors, the mayor and officials of Okehampton Town Council, 2Lt Harrow — Detachment Commander Sonia Harrow and the Okehampton Army Cadets, the Okehampton U15s rugby team members and the Okehampton Times for their great coverage of the day.

To all our exhibitors, traders, show day members, judges, stewards and sponsors I hope you had a good day and thank you for your support.

Thanks to all involved again and for the many unnamed people who unstintingly give so much of their time to ensure the success of the Show.

Finally and importantly a huge thank you must go to the all the visitors who came along to the show and braved the weather . On behalf of the association we hope you enjoyed your day. Planning for next year’s show will be underway as I write — roll on 2016.

L J G Hockridge

Chairman

Okehampton and District Agricultural Association