Kent County Show 2010

Kent County Show 2010

Rising very early on the first day of the Kent County Show proved an excellent plan as it meant I got the best car parking position I’ve ever achieved in Green car park, though it was a little surreal walking across a largely deserted showground at 7.30am in a rather posh outfit in a howling gale.

As a guest at the President’s Lunch, I needed to be in a nice frock of sorts and, having picked out my outfit in a heatwave, I was going to wear it if it killed me – despite the weather having turned completely in seven days and Detling having its own micro-climate anyway capable of turning the mildest of days into something else entirely.

The early start was courtesy of the IoD’s business breakfast and I’d accepted the invitation of my newest blogger, David Philpott – who just happens to be chairman of the IoD – to attend before I quite realised how early I needed to be on parade in my finery. But a bacon buttie and strong cuppa worked wonders: let the networking begin!

Highlight was definitely Tom Hart Dyke’s talk on his World Garden and the Columbian kidnapping 10 years ago that bizarrely led to its creation and the turnaround of his family fortunes at Lullingstone Castle, most embarrassing moment was David, speaking from the podium, announcing that speakers had to make sure they stuck to their allotted time ‘because Sarah Sturt had to rush off to another appointment.”

Well, only a small rush, for the launch of the County Show book at Allan Day House and a chance to catch up with two other members of the Kent team, my photographer and most of Hadlow College. Spotting their lovely buttonholes, in more or less the same shade of blue as my outfit, I made a beeline for floristry where the lovely Neill Bain pinned one to my cardi – sorted! Having failed miserably to find a matching hat this year, if push came to shove, I could always put the flowers in my hair later and claim it was my fascinator!

Next up was to hear former Member of the European Commission responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mariann Fischer Boel, speak in front of an audience of farmers at an NFU/CLA press conference and present the Emsden Cup for conservation to Shirley Goodsell and Justin Stock of Kentish agricultural business Intercrop.

Mariann was later keynote speaker at the President’s Lunch, where current President Lord Astor of Hever announced that he would be handing over the reins to his wife, who would be only the second female President in 81 years and would of course be following in the footsteps of her mother-in-law, also Lady Astor.

The food was particularly good this year, I thought, particularly the splendid lamb and Kentish strawberry dessert, and I enjoyed a most convivial chat with famous Kent auctioneer Clive Emson and his son, Miranda Sawyer of Pillory Barn and the next-but-one High Sheriff of Kent.

Later I go to catch up with Produced in Kent at their new improved Taste of Kent area, which I felt worked really well as a showcase for their members’ products and the new position a great improvement on previous years, and enjoyed the parade of cattle in the Astor Ring enormously.

A great show, lots of networking opportunities, the rain actually held off and if you are still hesitating about whether to go or not this weekend – make sure you do! The weather forecast is better for the next two days and it’s a chance you don’t often get to see this agricultural county at its very best. What could be better?

See also http://kent.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/kent-county-show-preview-22194/