So RASE has announced this year's Royal Show is to be the last-ever:

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2009/04/03/115020/2009-royal-show-is-the-last.html

I have to say, for the last couple of years it's been obvious something needed to be done to the show as it's been struggling to keep up with the likes of the Royal Welsh. It's a sad day though.

It seems to me that RASE just don't know whether they are coming or going.  Their strategic plan, dated 1 March 2009 and published on their website just yesterday states that the Royal Show is one of their priorities, So what happened since yesterday to change their minds?

More on the news from Mr Livestock Editor here: http://www.fwi.co.uk/blogs/livestock-and-sales-blog/2009/04/its-official-2009-is-the-last.html

 Its a shame really as according to my dad when he used to go it was excellent one of the best shows he ever went to. Then when we went last time it wasn't a patch on what it use to be from what he said and too me didn't seem much different to the now county show other than scale.

It would have been better of 2/3s of the show was agricultural like animal sheds, machinery, agri stands then the rest half horsey and the rest countrysidy stands. As the last time we went it seemed as though the farm and countryside stuff was squeezed up one end, then a few horsey bits and show rings then just a sea to tacky stalls (no offence intended to anyone who has one) I sure some are good but neither of us fancied trawling through them all to find the good ones.

Like you suggest Jacobus, pulling the plug raises more questions than it answers.

RASE states that the show was economically unviable but I disagree.

The reason the Royal ended up being a financial basket-case was not because of the show itself, but because the way it was run. If the Scots and the Welsh can make a success of their respective shows, then there is no excuse for the failure of the Royal.

RASE chairman Hugh Oliver-Bellasis states: "In the aftermath of the Foot and Mouth disaster in 2001 closely followed by very bad weather two years ago and Blue Tongue last year, the event has struggled – both financially and in its ability to attract both farming and non-farming visitors."

I think it is disingenuous to blame foot-and-mouth, bad weather and blue tongue for the show's demise. Other shows have also had to contend with those events and yet they are still going.

Stoneleigh too is ideally situated too in terms of it being (almost) in the centre of England. There's no excuse there for failing to pull in the punters.

I would suggest the show failed because it became irrelevant - irrelevant to farmers and irrelevant to the public. Why? Because the people running the show allowed it to become irrelevant.

RASE now aims to "create a new programme of events from 2010 onwards" that develops and enhances its reputation. It has also pledged to redouble its efforts to ensure that RASE is a relevant organisation for the 21st Century.

It will have its work cut out. But then again, after this its reputation can't sink much lower.

Like Jacobus says, what happened since 1 March to change their minds and pull the plug?

Don't know what's happened since 1 March, but bearing in mind the livestock scedules for this year's show only arrived on doormats earlier this week it does seem a somewhat rushed decision.

As Johann says it really boils down to poor management of the show by RASE, they may want to be seen as the Royal Agricultural Society rather than the Royal Show Society, but without a flagship event to push their message what hope is there?

On top of that how many people have RASE membership just to get free entry to the show or reduced livestock exhibitor fees - membership could fall like a stone on the back of this and then where will they be?

Once again more questions than answers, but I suspect there'll be a hell of booze up at "The last ever Royal Show"!

I honestly can't believe the lack of response to this news, I expected it to provoke a lot more views. It must be the fact that everybody thought that it was bound to happen given the dwindling attendance figures and irrelevance of some of the attractions to Agriculture.

I attended the Royal last year and couldn't believe how empty the rows were, at both the Yorkshire and Royal Welsh I was having to fight my way through the crowds.

top tup:

Once again more questions than answers, but I suspect there'll be a hell of booze up at "The last ever Royal Show"!

perhaps it'll get large becuase that,that they'll change thier mind . I can't understand why they can't ask for help and pointer for running it more sucessfully from the other shows that manage to pull off what they can't. Then perhaps they'll be supprised.

 it had to happen  im not surprised the show couldent pull in punters   the first show i went too  in the mid 80s was brill all the top  machinary   the best livstock   and just a realy good day out the last time i went about four years ago what a load of rubbish  and i do mean rubbish machens chowing up  rubbish and i said never again would i waste my time  and money  and that was the other nail it got so expesive   for a gloyfide car boot sale 

Johann Tasker:

RASE states that the show was economically unviable but I disagree.

The reason the Royal ended up being a financial basket-case was not because of the show itself, but because the way it was run. If the Scots and the Welsh can make a success of their respective shows, then there is no excuse for the failure of the Royal.

Stoneleigh too is ideally situated too in terms of it being (almost) in the centre of England. There's no excuse there for failing to pull in the punters.

I would suggest the show failed because it became irrelevant - irrelevant to farmers and irrelevant to the public. Why? Because the people running the show allowed it to become irrelevant.

You've made some very good points there.  There are several aspects that a good marketeer would love to get their hands on, Position, Name.

But again the point about it becoming irrelevant is because it hasn't changed, been marketed for today.  It's part of the fact that people today do not connect between the field and the fork.  Surely in today's age of reconnecting people with the food and where it comes from then it would be far better if the Royal was connected to the "Good Food Show".  Field to Fork in one day.  I've thought for some time that this is what the "Smithfield" should be???

 Thoughts?

This is the most appalling news I have heard since they let Smithfield show DIE.

An absolutely fabulous showground in the middle of the country with every facility and those who run it fail to make a profit from it.

The one thing that comes to mind is that they would fail to run a pissup in a brewery.

We now have to add it to the failure of the NFU to look efficiently after British Farmers.

SO LET US HAVE THE FACTS. NO ONE CAN SOLVE ANY PROBLEM WITH OUT A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF IT.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS IDIOTIC DECISION .

I'm going to be speaking to RASE chairman Hugh Oliver-Bellasis on Monday so you have have any specific questions you want answering let me know..

Who are the future of RASE. Not me

I hope the Trustees are hanging their heads in shame. What would be wrong with carrying on with the Royal Show as the Royal Show and being THE NATIONAL livestock show for the UK- England, Wales, Scotland, NI and IoM. Forget about all the countryside areas etc and have a proper livestock show with all the bells and whistle . It doesnt need a new name or logo just a fresh energetic image. The Royal Show is famous throughout the world as being the UK's premier livestock event so why create a new image when you have one with 160 years of heritage accepting that the last 15 havent been their most glorious.

 What ever happens they need to get away from the faceless trustees who makes decisions and are open to suggestion but how do you find out who they are to tell them what you think? Why are they afraid to put their names in the front page of the catalogue? Perhaps if they came down from their ivory towers and spent time around the livestock lines throughout the show they might get some useful feedback and be regarded a little bit better. Its not just enough to turn up and walk around with a VIP or when there is a photo opportunity.

  Each section of the show deserves a comittee of qualified people to make the decisions, qualified meaning exhibitors, that know whats needed and can make accurate plans targeting the issues they feel relevant.

all shows round the country are suffering as the number of farmers declines.

it is most marked in arable areas, where multi thousand acre units are commonplace.

these guys are so busy that they cant commit time to shows.

withj traditional tenancies disappearing in england, the trend is accelerating.

The highland  show suffers a lot less from these problems, as tenancies are secure up here, and its a more mixed farm area.

We also have the advantage of the show having no competition up here.

The loss of smithfield and the royal is a sad indictment of the state of english farming under new labour.

The RASE need to entice the machinery men back, as well as the stock if it is to survive.

         The loss of the Royal will leave a tremendous void. It is the flagship of the Agricultural shows.

         I feel that the many specialised events such as for Potatoes, Cereals, Grassland, Sprayers etc., have put a tremendous strain on the bigger Agricultural Shows. Farmers like to go and see their own specialised subject all together in one event. The machinery manufacturers have a more focused audience, are able to demonstrate in real conditions and all at a far lower cost.

         It is, perhaps, therefore, the livestock side which is left to keep shows like the Royal going. There was a wonderful competitive atmosphere in the livestock classes: first to win the local shows, then on to the area shows. The best animals would go to the Royal Highland at the end of June then on to the Royal in July.  It would be a great shame if this is lost.

         The Royal, as with the other summer shows, is also a vital shop window for the public to come and spend a day with our Farmers and see what is happening in our industry. To lose this could be the biggest loss of all.

glasshouse:

The loss of smithfield and the royal is a sad indictment of the state of english farming under new labour.

Glasshouse, I have to agree with you there.

         It would not surprise me if this shock announcement does not give rise to a record attendance at this years Royal, provided the weather is good. I hope so, and I hope that, somehow, there will be a new beginning rather than a tragic end.

glasshouse:

The loss of Smithfield and the Royal is a sad indictment of the state of eEnglish farming under New Labour.

In another thread Motley talks of new blood being needed. The industry, like the nation, needs new and younger blood. Not new slogans, daily initiatives and spurious social visions such as those provided by new labour, but individual ambition and ideas expressed with enthusiasm by young men and women untrammelled by the stifling bureaucracy and the overweening paternalism of the self righteous political elite.

To paraphrase Marx, or was it Engels, (and I'm a Tory)

"Farmers of the World unite all you have to lose are the crippling chains of red tape."

I read the heading quickly and thought OH No! the Royal Cornwall was finished, then realised it was the other one, you know, the one the rich folk from up country go too.

panic over, i can now look forward to heading west to the best show in the country !!!

Caroline,

           The best of luck with your questions but for me not knowing the Man at all his name could possibly be the giveaway as to the demise of the Show !!! The best points have already been made on this subject but I would have thought your main question would be" when is this man and the rest of the Trustees going to stand down and let someone else take the reins".

RASE chairman Hugh Oliver-Bellasis states:

burocrat basher:

not knowing the Man at all his name could possibly be the giveaway as to the demise of the Show !!!

A bit rough this BB as it's not all in a name however, I do think you are closer to a truth than might be imagined but for a different reason. My own theory is that the 'Old ruling elite as represented by people with names such as *   -   *, have lost confidence and power and their old established rules of behaviour inhibit their responding in a suitable way to the modern machinations of the New Labour elite. As a consequence instead of confronting the idiocies of new labour they assume that this government is playing by the same rules and so balanced outcomes will be acheived.

As a result we now have a nation in which accumulated conservative wisdom has no voice, but in which untested and unevaluated ideas are pursued at vast public expense.

I'm all for ideas being pursued: God knows I have enough of my own, but most ideas from most people are not worthy of public money, and some of the folk generating the ideas are loonies. Many of these do not have hypenated names and Smith, Brown and Darling come to mind.

Leave the politics out of this, they are irrelevant on this occasion. The problem is people living in the past and not responding to the present. We (farmers) are in the main terrible communicators with the public. The Royal show and every other main show throughout the UK are bending over backwards to pander to Joe Public to the point where they are patronising the farming community and as someone else said running glorified fete's or car boot sales. Yes they do need to be better informed of farming practices and responsibilities but they dont need to be the main focus of attention as a visitor group. If farmers dont value the event they won't come and then you loose trade stands, exhibitors and credibility. Why has the Royal lasted so long? The livestock exhibitors value being a class winner or Champion more than at any other show and have remained loyal. Get back to basics with recognisable, progressive, HANDS-ON people running the place and the show will once again be great.

hereford bull:

The Royal show and every other main show throughout the UK are bending over backwards to pander to Joe Public to the point where they are patronising the farming community and, as someone else said, running glorified fete's or car boot sales. Yes they (the public) do need to be better informed of farming practices and responsibilities but they don't need to be the main focus of attention as a visitor group.

I do think Hereford bull expressed what is happening and has thereby, posited the solution. The reasons as to why the show's organisers let the focus slip away from farming and towards the public has however, much to do with politics. As I said previously, I think that during the new labour onslaught on the countryside the RASE heirarchy lost confidence in their role and their industry. I do hope they can recover it in time to develop a new direction for what was the nation's premier show. 

Peter,

       There is a great deal of sense in what you say but the Folks in charge at RASE do seem to have lost the plot.In their explanation they blame the Foot and Mouth Outbreak and Weather both of which we must assume were covered by Insurance for the Shows demise.I personnaly think this demise goes back some time and has its roots in trying to broaden the appeal of the Show to all and sundries wants. Farmers and folks connected to the Countryside attend to see new products,better bred stock ,new varieties of crops,Machinery and Mechanisation and many peripheral products associated with Agriculture.To my mind if more income needed to be generated it was not by admitting incompetence in operating the Show for the Agricultural community and getting in some crazy outfit from London with all the buzz phrases and painted finger nails but to encourage more folks to attend to see the Technology of the Farm and how it all works just as the Chefs have done on the TV to food from the Farm.Then the usual short term remedy from the London boys charge more for everything.Good for one year,dissaster thereafter. Why did all the Machinery Boys leave and even the trinket sellers could not take the punisment.

   We have all seen old family Estates fall in exactly the same way and the ones that prosper are the ones that do not have slick Farm Managers that spend the Earth do miracles for two or three years and clear off leaving the mess for some poor sod who has to work for years to repare the damage by prudence and good honest hardwork and above all direction.The scenario is the same for the Royal Show and to my simple mind the RASE is throwing away the Goose with the ability to lay Golden Eggs.Their problem lies in seeing wood and Trees.

Forget all this claptrap. The simple reason that the Royal Show has got into the state it has is purely bad management. In the 80`s it was a great show. Overcharging machinery companies for trade stands began the rot. Further bad decisions compounded the decline. As other posters have stated the posistion and site are excellent. It is just the people in charge that have turned a silk purse into a sow`s ear.