There is hardly anything about Muker Show that conforms or tries to conform with today's world.

Sheep are shown as they always have been, quoits are thrown, the Silver Band plays with great passion, the children still have their own races, whilst the supremely energetic take part in the Fell Race.

Millions of folks will never discover Muker Show (perhaps thankfully for those of us who love it the way it is), but for the couple of thousand that do it is a very real treat.

I first attended the show over 15 years ago and fell in love with it instantly. There is little in the way of commercialism, with just a handful of trade stands, and it sits quietly in the beautiful countryside of Swaledale. In fact even when the show is on it is still relatively quiet in the village too, it's just not one of those places where people need to be loud.

When I first visited Muker Show there was one man who continually ran up and down the fell raising money for charity. He had already completed an ascent and descent three times when I arrived and he went on to complete another two whilst I was there.

He was, amazingly doing the same again when I attended this year, but now on crutches. I had in my mind, from those 15 years ago, a picture of a tousled-haired, bearded 50-something pushing himself to the limit whilst the Muker crowd continually offered up their warm and affectionate response.

Charles Gauntley, as I found out his name for the first time this year, now has spinal and hip problems yet still completed his fell run for the 16th year. He's not a local, but he certainly deserves to be taken to the hearts of all Swaledale folk if he isn't already. He actually comes from Tuxford in North Nottinghamshire.

'My wife doesn't know I'm here. She thinks I've gone to Whitby,' he says with that boyish grin from behind what is now a grey mop of hair and beard.

'We came up here fore a holiday a lot of years ago and saw a sign for the show. They looked a bit short of runners at the time so I had a go. I love it here and I've always run to raise money for charity. Geoff (Charles' friend) and I went to see the Mountain Rescue people before we set off on the fell to tell them we were doing it for them and so far we've raised £100.'

This years' show also saw the last year of Doreen Whitehead's reign on the catering side. Doreen started catering for the show in 1976 and tells me that the best thing that ever happened to her was meeting up with Ernest (her husband) through the show in 1978, marrying in 1980.

'I used to run the café at Hawes Auction Mart and first became involved with the village in Muker when I was asked to cater for a wedding in the village hall.'

Doreen now suffers from osteoporosis, which hasn't helped of course in the past few years but she has steadfastly soldiered on. However, this year was finally her last as on the catering side.

'This is definitely it for me. I've loved every minute of what I've done here over the years and I've had brilliant staff. People have got out of their sickbeds to be here or have changed their working life around so that they can fit it in and that tells you how much they care about Muker Show.'

Indeed they do. Next year Doreen might actually get to watch some of it for the first time in 30 years – maybe she'll even be able to watch yet another Fell Run by Charles.

One extra special mention for the band too. Their stirring rendition of the song 'One Moment In Time' was quite the most moving and emotional moment of my entire summer show season. You played it superbly well all of you! Well done Muker – and keep your own moment in time forever.