Royal Welsh Show drew 200,000 visitors

MORE THAN 200,000 people attended the Royal Welsh Show, including 22 executives from other UK show societies.

The attendance was about 20,000 down on last year’s event, though that marked the society’s centenary and enjoyed a double Royal visit.

Organisers also attributed the fall to the fact that schools in only two Welsh counties had broken up for the summer holidays.

Harry Fetherstonhaugh, the show’s director said all Welsh directors of education had been given the dates for the next 15 years to try to avoid a repeat of the problem.

“This is the largest single event in Wales and it is of considerable educational and cultural value,” insisted Mr Fetherstonhaugh. “Many farmer’s wives are teachers and they also want to attend.” 

During the show 750 foreign visitors from 56 countries signed in at the International Pavilion, including the first 40 from Libya.

Peter Guthrie, the society’s soon to retire company secretary, said the show’s turnover had topped £4.5m, but was run with half the number of staff employed by its competitors.

This was possible because 1098 voluntary stewards did 1400 different jobs.