Credit to the Great Yorkshire Show for the way it has bounced back from Covid - Sarah Todd

The so-called ‘flying Frenchman’ still looks out at this fan every time she opens the tack room door. There he is, pinned to the wall on the right, majestically coming out of the sea standing atop a pair of grey horses in white breaches; somebody Jilly Cooper would doubtless find jolly super.

We watched him again, when he returned to the Harrogate showground four years later in 2018, by which point the little girl who had waited in line next to her mother for that poster had driven herself to the show.

Not long to go now until we are reunited, as he’s returning to the 164th show this year - which runs between next Tuesday July 11 and Friday 14 - as the star billing once again. Let’s hope his knees are still in good fettle; they must take some stick balancing on the backs of those beautiful horses.

Nostalgia is around every avenue at the show for this correspondent; from the journey into the regimental order in which the show is ‘done’.

Farming families the length and breadth of the county will know the routine, splitting up to go around the machinery or watch a horse class or two, then maybe wander around the stalls. Meeting up for a bite to eat and then an afternoon of cattle sheds and bumping into people that probably haven’t been seen since the same time the year before. Sitting to watch some showjumping before heading home.

As children we ran around by ourselves - no mobile phones - collecting badges, paper hats, stickers and balloons. We had various meeting up places in case of getting lost, including the old General Accident building, where farmers who insured with them were treated to the most magnificent spread.

There is a picture somewhere, with my Young Farmers’ Club friend Helen (who now lives in France, so maybe she’s seen Lorenzo there?) and we are stood in the Members’ Enclosure sporting Laura Ashley flowery dresses and straw hats. We thought we were so sophisticated. Now Schöffel fleece gilets are de rigueur among the younger generation (no matter what the temperature) and for the girls skinny white jeans, shorts or miniskirts paired with a polo belt and deck shoes.

The show was first visited in a working capacity as an 18 year-old reporter, more than three decades ago. Back then photographers had to race back to their darkrooms to develop the images for the next day’s paper and stories were ‘rung in’ after reversing the charges to copy takers, who touch-typed the painstakingly pulled together results.

Children came along, although when they were at the pushchair stage we were always happy to leave them with granny.

As they got older their first stop was always the Army assault course, although they were dragged away to see her late Majesty the Queen when she stepped onto the hallowed turf in 2008. Our new King has visited many times and seems to genuinely love the show, so here’s hoping he persuades the new Prince and Princess of Wales to acquaint themselves with it before too long.

All the fun the children had made the countless standoffs with teachers, to get the day off school, worthwhile.

It’s now a joy to bump into their friends; the next generation making new show memories.

But enough of these rose-tinted reflections. For every person who feels sentimental about ‘our’ show there will be somebody visiting for the first time. The sell-out figures speak for themselves; 35,000 visitors over the four days, so a grand total of 140,000 through the gates.

It’s a credit to all how it has bounced back, complete with that extra day, after being cancelled by Covid.

In an online world it’s wonderful to learn that there are still going to be printed programmes and catalogues. Many other events have used the environment as an excuse to ditch them, but only an exhibitor, stallholder or sponsor - whose name is proudly listed - can explain how much this tradition truly means.

There’s no doubt about it, a lot of deals will be done at the show. A delegation of red-meat buyers from Asia, the Middle East and North America are visiting to talk to farmers and see their livestock for themselves. There is a brand-new Innovation Zone, showcasing high-tech modern farming and the latest agricultural developments.

Rural life reflects modern society and women in farming are just as likely to be checking out the latest piece of kit or leading a big bull around the cattle parade.

This year the fashion show is back; something my late grandmother used to love watching, but updated for 2023 with a competition earlier in the year to find real-life models.

Not sure what grandma would reckon to the trainers that have been bought especially for this year’s show, but - just like the Great Yorkshire - keeping a toehold in the future is important.

Sarah Todd is a farmer’s daughter, agricultural journalist and former editor of Yorkshire Life magazine. Read her column every Wednesday in The Yorkshire Post.