Nidderdale Show makes last-minute emergency changes due to Queen's death - but show will go on

“We obviously couldn’t hold the show that day, so we swiftly had to change plans,” said Martin, for whom this will be his first show as chairman, having completed two years as vice chairman without ever witnessing the show in action.

“We held an emergency meeting last Saturday and It was decided to bring the show day forward by a day, to tomorrow, Sunday 19 September and everyone has been working their socks off to make sure everything is in place.

“One day forward doesn’t sound an awful lot to some people but with the size of the show and its many different parts there have been some serious decisions that have had to be made.

“Getting the new show date and all information out to everyone saw our amazing show and society secretary Sue Monk under amazing pressure on Sunday last week when she was here in the showground office from 8am until early evening firing out emails left, right and centre with the help of Heather Stoney Grayshon.

Martin is a dairy farmer’s son and Nidderdale Show has always been a part of his life. He showed calves in the young handlers’ classes with his brother Steven when a member of Nidderdale YFC; he was a ground steward taking straw around the rings, progressed to being the show tractor driver; and for the last few years been helping on the main gate.

“When I drove the tractor and it was a wet year I would often end up doing a lot of towing out. Hopefully, we’ve coped with all of the heavy lifting already this year in terms of the reorganisation that has been done.

Martin said there have been some tough decisions, some soul-searching moments and some casualties along the way, but that at its heart has been the resolve to put on a show that celebrates what Pateley Bridge and its surrounding area is all about and with due respect to what will be taking place the following day.

“We have usually held a Sunday Service the day prior to the show each year at the show bandstand and we felt that it would be right to do something that would show our respect for Her Majesty’s commitment to the country and to agricultural shows during her reign.

“That’s why at around 3pm we will now be holding a short service of remembrance including a couple of well-known hymns and also a minute’s silence, in the main ring in front of the grandstand, led by the Reverend Alistair Fearnley.

Martin said that in marked contrast the fairground that has always been a Nidderdale Show staple will definitely take place, but that this had proved a moral dilemma.

“On Saturday when we held our emergency meeting there were concerns over how it might look if we had the fairground attractions and how it might look to some as disrespectful and we made a decision to cancel.

“When we spoke with Mr Robinson, who owns the funfair, he pointed out that there were guidelines in place for such as funfairs in order that everything was run respectfully and he urged us to reconsider and make it something special for the kids.

Martin said their original decision was reversed and that the funfair would not be cancelled.

“We all just want to do the right thing,” said Martin. “Nidderdale Show has a fantastic reputation. We attract nearly 18,000 on a good show day and we want to show people the best of livestock, wonderful horses, great tradestands, excellence in country crafts and trades – and most importantly we want people to have a good time.

“We’ve had to rearrange quite a few things. Unfortunately, the dog show cannot take place because of logistics of judges’ availability and we have lost some tradestands and some exhibitors who cannot now make it again down to logistics, but we are still back and looking forward to Nidderdale Show’s return, and we will all be breathing a heavy sigh of relief at that, particularly this year.

“Our main ring attraction is The Cavalry of Heroes. It will be a fabulous spectacle with highwaymen, musketeers and Vikings all involved. And of course there will be the Grand Parade that everyone looks forward to.

Martin was invited on to the show committee in 2006, following in the footsteps of his parents.

“My dad was chairman of the centenary show, is a past president and looks after the sponsors tent. He’s why I got involved.

“I took on the role of vice chairman in February 2020, just before lockdown. I took over as chairman in late February this year.

“I certainly wasn’t made for all of the decisions that have had to be made in the past week as my normal job is in agricultural construction work, machinery repairs, fabrication and concreting, usually on farms. I am very fortunate that the people around me, the committee and particularly Sue Monk know what they are doing. It’s always a real team effort putting on a show, but this year it has been a steep learning curve for me.

Martin said he is looking forward to tomorrow.

“Hopefully nothing else will be thrown at us at the absolute last minute as some kind of ultimate curve ball and that the sun will shine on us.

PANEL

Nidderdale Agricultural Society owns the showground in Pateley Bridge. The showground is regularly rented out for caravan rallies and events.

Nidderdale Show has been held since 1895 and brings the curtain down on the summer agricultural show season in Yorkshire that begins with Otley Show in May.

The traditional opening to the show takes place when the show officials march down Pateley Bridge high street behind the band, over the River Nidd, and on to the showground.

Although Her Majesty The Queen never attended Nidderdale Show, our new king – King Charles III was guest of honour at the show in 2003 when Trevor Stoney was chairman and Geoff Walmsley was president.

Martin said, ‘Trevor is the current show president and show director and his son Richard assists him with show direction when Trevor is dealing with his presidential responsibilities. Trevor has also followed in the footsteps of his father Joe Stoney.