Way back in the 1960's I was a freelance broadcaster for the BBC, contributing to such radio programmes as "On Your Farm" and TV shows like "Farming" broadcast each Sunday lunchtime. Both were produced from Birmingham and the BBC deemed it appropriate to host a cocktail party each summer in its own sizeable entertainment marquee at the Royal Show by way of appreciation of its agricultural contributors.
In those days, remember, the Beeb had eight regional agricultural programme producers and a London based staff as well. Some of the chiefs from London used to grace us with their presence on these occasions. Farming mattered in those days. And the Royal Show was pretty good too, attracting huge attendances from all over the country to the then relatively new permanent site at Stoneleigh.
Those of us reporting from the Show hardly had time to attend these BBC jolly's because we were busy chasing round the ground doing interviews. But it was a three line whip and we had to attend if at all possible.
I well remember one occasion when the London based boss of Radio 4 was hosting that I arrived late for the champagne and his speech. I slid into the marquee hoping no-one would notice. But the great man's wife - a lady of considerable proprotions - buttonholed me. "Hello", she boomed, "and who are you?" Oh, I'm just a freelance who does interviews for BBC programmes", I replied. "But most of the time I'm a farmer".
"And where do you farm?" asked the lady, looking for all the world like a galleon in full sail. "I farm in Norfolk", I replied. "Oh, poor you", she said, "but I suppose one has to live in a place like that if you want to farm". My hackles rose and I asked her why she felt the way she did about my county of which I was and still am proud.
"Well", she went on "I'm told its so flat and it must be a cultural desert and I gather there are no decent roads to get there". "Well madam", I replied, "it is nothing like as flat as you seem to believe; it is certainly not a cutural desert and even if the roads are less good than yours in the south east at least it keeps people like you out". I think she got the message. I was perhaps fortunate not to get the sack.
However, these days and indeed for several years now, the BBC presence at the Royal Show has been a caravan or two from which to transmit outside broadcasts. There's no entertainment and no champagne. That, it appears is now reserved for the Glastonbury festival where something over 400 BBC people were paid to spend their time over the weekend.
I suppose we should be grateful that the event actually takes place on a farm. But the juxtaposition over the years of pop music being more important than food production could be interpreted as an interesting commentary on changed priorities over the last half century. I wonder if they will turn up for next weeks wake for the Royal Show?