SUNDAY 24th - BANK HOLIDAY 25th AUGUST
The road signs had gone up at the beginning of August and these always herald the run up to the Show.
Planning starts soon after the previous year’s Show, with bookings confirmed for equipment and supplies, stall holders and exhibitors taking place over the following months. The last Bank Holiday weekend of the year is a very busy time for Shows around the country and consequently early booking as above is essential as those potential participants can soon be booked up elsewhere!
The week before the Show sees much activity with the marquees and other equipment arriving and being erected. Also the hedges and parking fields are cut and any ground work done to ensure smooth passage for the many vehicles that will attend. Signs, bollards and pedestrian fencing are all positioned to allow safe ease of access to and from all areas.
Watching the weather forecast becomes an essential occupation in the days leading up and we were fortunate this year as the weather was set fair.
The volunteers and stewards were all in place early on both mornings and had their briefing and instructions as to their positions and duties for the two days and were given their high vis jackets.
The Show got going after the opening and short service by The Reverend Janet Nicholls with the Arena Events stating at 11am. Over the two days we watched skilful displays of working sheepdogs, machinery parades, children’s games including Egg and Spoon and Sack Races. New this year was Hobby Horse racing! We asked the local Men’s Shed in Little Canfield to make 10 wooden ‘horses. They certainly came up trumps – their well designed steeds with painted heads and manes. The tug of war created much amusement, with this year a large assembly of all ages managing to pull a very heavy steam traction engine for several feet! The ‘Canine Musical Sit’… a sort of musical chairs with dogs but with surprising variations, has established itself as one of the highlights of the arena events! The huge Shire Horses always provide a most impressive sight and have been attending for many years. We are again indebted to the Jackson family.
The Horticultural Marquee
One of the highlights of the show – The Horticultural Marquee produced an amazing display of green fingered excellence, amazing craft skills and fantastic creativity…the best of which were rewarded with rosettes presented in the arena. It was lovely to see the proud smiles of the participants.
Steam Carousel
New this year was the Steam Carousel. A beautiful example of English craftsmanship, traditional painted decoration and sign written, it was originally built in 1893. Many visitors enjoyed riding on the 34 horses and two cockerels to the music of the Gavioli organ.
ART SHOW
The Art Show in the church provided another array of accomplished artists, sculptors and photographers proudly displaying their work for visitors to buy or just admire.
The Show Bar
The Show Bar, run by Dunmow Young Farmers again proved to be a great draw with many sitting enjoying a drink throughout the event. The bar was open until 10pm on the Sunday night for participants in the Show and the Young Farmers, with an excellent band providing the entertainment. At 10pm the bar closed and all left quietly.
The Animal Marquee
The Animal Marquee allowed visitors to see farm animals up close, all safely penned though! There were opportunities to handle smaller animals under strict supervision and this was extremely popular with the children, their parents looking on.
A blacksmith demonstration showcased how the techniques used have changed little over the past 100 years, the hammer and anvil skills still much in evidence.
The Ploughing Match
The Ploughing Match again attracted a good entry, although it would be nice to see a few more in the novices class on the Monday.
TRACTION ENGINES
The Steam Traction Engines, both full size and miniature, are always a draw and the evocative smell a welcome addition. They were in steam throughout the two days.
We were privileged this year to welcome ‘Ex-Mayor’. This is a Burrell Showman’s Road Locomotive, built in 1925 and used to haul travelling fairground equipment from venue to venue. We are grateful to David Roberts and the Saunders Collection for allowing this wonderful example of the best of British engineering to attend our Show.
The Dog Show
The Dog Show was continuously busy, with an extraordinary variety of dogs competing for the different classes and also entering the scurry and ‘longest biscuit’ competition.
Little Easton Manor
Little Easton Manor and its surrounding outbuildings, gardens and lakes provided the perfect setting for visitors to enjoy the many different activities taking place, including live music, Morris dancing, mumming plays, car shows and shop at the many stalls. Refreshments available included the Pimms bar, Manor tearoom and bar and food stalls.
The stalls in the historic barn theatre and in the gardens opposite were well attended and the exhibitors pleased with the business done.
CAR SHOW
Car Shows took place on both days with among others the Austin 7, Morris Minor and Essex Landrover Clubs displaying the results of much unseen restoration and conservation work that had taken place, often over the winter months.
The Rolls Royces and Bentleys shown by P+A Wood were much admired with electric models that were even quieter than the almost inaudible internal combustion engines of the last few years!
IN SUMMARY
This year’s Show, as always, is held to raise money to keep the four churches of the Five Parishes open and in good condition for the community and those from further afield to worship in, visit, admire, be inspired by.
Ancillary to this the Show also is a key community event, and acts as a meeting place for many families, sometimes getting together from afar, for local residents, for those travelling quite some distance. All arrive to find a friendly, happy and relaxing atmosphere, with central attractions that in many cases involve public participation, be it entering items for the Horticultural or Art Shows, participating in the Dog Show, children’s arena activities, Car Show etc.
There are ten separate Charities who participate in the Show, whether selling burgers, coffee, gifts, second-hand goods, homing rescue dogs, discussing their work and giving out information. For all of them this is an essential source of income and publicity.
The Showground has now resumed its sleepy rusticity, and it sometimes seems as if nothing happened there over the August Bank Holiday! This is contradicted by the memories of the many visitors, some of whom have been coming for years and new generations of those families are now finding out the joys of this rural celebration… old fashioned maybe but in this ‘online’ age perhaps something to cherish.
Please do put next year’s dates in your diaries:
