LONDON // The Royal Show, the principal showcase of British farming since Victorian times, is to be axed. This year's show, to be held in July, will be the 160th and last, marking the end of an event that, barring the interruptions caused by two world wars, has been running every year since 1840. Bad weather, the foot and mouth epidemic in the United Kingdom eight years ago and last year's outbreak of blue tongue disease were blamed by the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) this week for falling attendances that had made the show financially unviable. But critics have long complained that the show, where prime livestock was judged, was poorly organised and had failed to keep up with the rapidly changing face of agriculture worldwide.
Farmers have also said that, compared with other agricultural shows, there were too few relevant exhibitors, particularly of farming machinery, while the number of participants from abroad has slumped. Hugh Oliver-Bellasis, the chairman of the RASE trustees, appeared to accept some of the criticism when he said in a letter announcing the end of the show: "We don't want people to dwell on the demise of the Royal Show but focus on the innovative events that RASE will deliver in 2010 and beyond.
"We want them to see this moment as a watershed: the beginning of feeling re-engaged with a society that not only listens, but also hears the call of its audience." Jonathan Long, livestock editor of Farmers' Weekly magazine, said the decision to end the Royal Show, which has been held at the showground at Stoneleigh Park, Worcestershire, for more than 30 years, was "a shock". But he added: "All in all I guess it's something we've long thought could happen, but also, deep down, believed never would."
Last year, about 100,000 people visited the show over its four days, but the number of livestock entries tumbled because of movement restrictions imposed two weeks before its opening because of the blue tongue outbreak. The Royal Welsh Show, by contrast, attracted twice as many people. In 2007, torrential rain meant that the Royal Show had to be cancelled midway through the event. In 2006, 130,000 people attended although even this was seven per cent down on the previous year, a fact RASE blamed on scorching hot weather.
After last year's event, which he branded "a catastrophe", Long said: "We need a national livestock show, [but] does it need to be the Royal? Ideally, yes, but unless RASE are prepared to listen to those who know a tad more about shows than their current staff and council do, then maybe not. "There are people willing to make the event work, but, sadly, RASE aren't always prepared to work with them. The classic quote from a senior steward at this year's show encapsulated the attitude for me. When asked what should be done to revive the event, he simply said: 'It's nothing to do with me, I'm just the chief steward'.
"When stewards have that attitude, what hope is there for the show? These people should be proud to be involved with the event and want to see it succeed but some obviously couldn't care a jot." Nigel Pulling, the chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society whose show might benefit from the Royal's demise, said the end of the Royal Show represented a sad day for the agricultural industry.
"There is no joy on our part that a major show such as the Royal has decided to close its doors," he said. "This will leave a big hole in the show season which can't be filled." The Queen and particularly Prince Charles have been frequent visitors to the show, which was granted its royal charter by Queen Victoria. But Mr Oliver-Bellasis said the response to the event in recent years had left the society with little option but to make this year's the last.
"The event has struggled, both financially and in its ability to attract both farming and non-farming visitors," he said. "The Royal Show has been unique, in its international as well as its local influence, as an agricultural summer event. Today's dire worldwide economic crisis is an added challenge, thus the trustees have concluded that the Royal Show is no longer economically viable." dsapsted@thenational.ae
