2004 ‘triumphal success’ – RWAS

THE ROYAL Welsh Agricultural Society made a profit of £377,779 in its centenary year.

In his report for 2004, Harry Fetherstonhaugh, acting chairman of the Society’s board of management, described the year as a triumphal success.

But he warned that the Builth Wells showground required extremely costly, but unavoidable, further investment.

“I refer to the pressing need to install new storm drains to carry away increasing levels of surface water which, if not alleviated, could eventually threaten the stability of the infrastructure,” Mr Fetherstonhaugh claimed.

The problem was linked to the construction of new buildings with large roofs, concrete surrounds and tarmac roads that had resulted from the success of the permanent site.

The Society was also contributing to the cost of lighting the A470 road adjacent to the site to make it safer for showgoers after dark.

In 2004 the summer show attracted 227,360 visitors, including the six millionth person to attend since the event settled on the site in 1963.

It made a profit of £314,293, despite a £318,000 year-on-year increase in staging costs.

The annual Winter Fair pulled in a record 25,667 people and made a surplus of £143,286, or £55,000 more than in 2003.

Mr Fetherstonhaugh added that the achievements of 2004 were crowned by the growth in RWAS membership, which hit a record 14,240.