David's Digest

David,

Consumption or production? I think you could do both actually and would it not be folly to attempt to split the two. However, one key issue is getting the industry to feel "ownership" of the show in the way the Scots and Welsh do.

What about getting the NFU to hold its annual convention at and during the Royal Show and to cooperate with RASE to develop a strong farming business focus which would interest farmers while providing their families with attractions at the same time?

Perhaps this has been tried before, but I reckon there are several farming organisations that would benefit from holding conventions concurrently on the site...

Julian

I am, more or less, an RASE life member, having taken on my father's membership and the Royal Show has always been a defining point in my year.

I still lament the fact that the Royal Smithfield has been mis-managed out of existance and dread the Royal going the same way.

The show has lost a lot of its utility now that the NFU building has gone up. At show time that creates a dead zone where once there was interest. Unseating the flower show and the areas around it has cost the show as has the effect of making the members pavillion much less of a central point.

I agree that the Haymarket episode was a disaster as it further distanced the running of the show from farmers and RASE members. I'll never forget one mother laying into the caterers at the extortionate prices that were being charged to members. It is worth remebering that the same members probably provide twice the quality BBQs at half the price at their local fates and barn dances.

Where has the pagaentry gone. I was totally disappointed that there was not a great closing flourish of military bands, last posts, sunset ceremonies, parachute drops and hot air ballons.

Whilst I appreciate the importance of butterfly mixes the show would do well to move the trial plots of weeds out to the periphery and a more naturalised setting as is the case with farm woodland and rebuilt the critical mass of the machinery exhibits and demos. There was time that companies had to be at the Royal or the wrong questions would be asked.

The Royal show is in decline rather than transition and its hard won name, that has been built over 160+ years, is being squandered. It needs to recapture the farming community's ownership and pride and that is going to be a long haul.

Daniel

"those who decided on such a heavy land and slow draining permanent site over fifty years ago"

so in a nutshell - fifty years on, after unprecedented july rainfall in living memory ... i saw this coming!! come on, does everything have to be based on such a blame culture?

It is disappointing that David Richardson should feel it necessary to write in such a way. I will give him the dose of humble pie he demands. You are right, RASE was wrong and we are sorry. However, with the right to criticise, comes the responsibility to offer your solution. Let me offer some facts:
Hindsight is accurate and often damning, in this case Haymarket, loss of Cereals, down turn in the industry, weather, but we are where we are? The heavy land comment is not worthy of a responsible journalist and a farmer. The industry should tell RASE what it will or will not support. Do they want Henley on dry land? Let us be positive and work together to do better.

Someone called Jacobus has some interesting comments to make on the FWi forums.

http://www.fwi.co.uk/DiscussionForumThreads/2007/07/04/1/32_25131b20-e007-43ae-8587-2fa5b31c625d/show-weather-disasters.html

Isabel

David is correct about the need for a reality check at the RASE but close observers will know that it is a vain hope.
Removal of Haymarket was welcomed in the industry but at what cost? Cereals the jewel in the RASE crown given away, the Town and Country Festival cancelled and the recent Royal Show a sad joke - progress??
The mantra of 'The best show ever' is straight from the office of the Chief executive backed by motivational management textbooks that have been out of date in business for decades. He believes that saying things in a positive manner will make them come true! The current Chief Executive is known by the existing staff to tell lies to further his own standing. Integrity and leadership are now sadly lacking in the RASE. Those in control know the issues. Nigel Hollick Honorary Show Director resigned because they were not prepared to take action. Many experienced staff were not prepared to work in an environment where their views and experience were ignored, they highlighted the issues but were branded negative because they questioned the reality of 'The best show ever'.
A plaque has been seen in the office of the chief Executive that claims 'Failure is not an option' - this week shows it clearly is an option and a reality.
Only time will tell if the RASE are prepared to grasp the nettle and deal with a discredited Chief Executive for only then will reform be possible. Without action the contribution of the RASE to the industry will be that of a social club for the few and increasingly meaningless to the many.
So RASE Trustees and Council - Is failure an option?

Further to the adverse comments about the Show - let us put the rain into context - av June rainfall- 55mm June; 07 - 149mm variance 248%. July av 44mm rain 1-3 Jul 07 35mm. I suggest that short of cancelling it prior to the Show no contingencty was possible. Sunshine makes people smile and come out rain in that quantity well we were lucky there were barve loyal visitors. David suggests that the rain was merely the final nail, that is his view, but there were good positive comments from many Trade Stands, equine was very positive - just imagine had it been a sunny show and large crowds - what would the comments have been? Anyway that is behind us you have made your points it was very difficult in lots of ways. Now put your money where your mouths are and tell us what to do?

hugh what was the decision to be made yesterday about the future of the royal show 2008 onwards? regards basil fox

Having been an exhibitor at the Royal for many years and worked on site for a year or so, it comes as no surprise that the RASE has dropped the ball. Imagine a 1960’s civil service culture with a land-owning (as opposed to farming) officer class in bowler hats trying to run a commercial enterprise in this day and age!
At least, in the past, they had a good team of senior NCO-types to actually get the job done. I understand that most of these stalwarts have left in disgust, leaving a bunch of politically-correct ‘experts’ to run the national showcase for English agriculture.
The RASE has lost the moral right to organise a national farming show, or indeed represent farmers. I suggest they change their name to the Royal Countryside Society of England and focus on horses, butterflies and the like.
For those of us that think that there is still a demand for an agricultural machinery show, Farmers Weekly’s parent company (RBI) has shown the way forward for the UK’s largest industry. The organisation of this years Site Equipment Demonstration (www.sed.co.uk) was superb, on a purpose-built site in Northamptonshire, complete with well-drained hard standing areas for car-parking.