I went to the Game Fair for the first time in several years. Set in the beautiful countryside around Belvoir castle it was much bigger than I remember it and from the size of the crowd and the almost palpable enjoyment being had by all was clearly successful.
I was there to take part in a FW sponsored debate on food security - of which more elsewhere on this site. Afterwards I was interviewed for a radio station and the interviewer, who clearly had a lot of time to fill, went on asking me questions for ages. Among other things he wanted to know why so many people came to such an event, run as it is by landowners and toffs.
My reply was that virtually all those who attended were clearly country people. Yes, there were plenty of toffs around but there were gamekeepers, beaters, picker-uppers, horse and dog lovers and so on. In short the entire crowd were country lovers in whichever category. That was what united them and why the Game Fair works so well as an event.
I am aware, of course, that this could be construed as a weakness; that countryside interests need to improve relationships with urban dwellers and help them understand what makes us tick. But maybe thats for another day, another occasion. In the meantime we rural types were very happy in one anothers company over the weekend.