The 2007 Show

Imagine Pateley Show without livestock! Now imagine a Pateley Show without livestock that was a wonderful success, considering that only twelve days before the 2007 show came the confirmation of a further outbreak of FMD and everything had to be re-arranged.  There were new classes, competitions, displays, attractions and additional trade stands all organised at the last minute.

It all started off so well with the Church in the Dale Show Service on the show ground on Sunday afternoon in the sunshine, accompanied by the Summerbridge and Dacre Silver Prize Band.  There were hymns and prayers for the stricken farming community and hopes for a fine day tomorrow.

Show Day dawned with driving rain.  I remember laughing at 6.15am as I collected pork pies and goodies for press hospitality.  I looked down the Street and there was a HBC primrose pick-up and a worker watering the hanging baskets in the rain!  What a way to start the show day!

But didn’t it go well, despite the rain?  Our proudest tradition of having quality livestock at the show was broken but the tradition that it always rains at Pateley Show was kept up with a vengeance.  There were plenty of other animals to be seen.  We still had all the horses and the Fur and Feather section and the Dog Show.  There were so many folks in such good moods.  When the sun came out they were everywhere and when the rain came down they sheltered in the tents where they could.  Actually once you get wet through you just stop worrying!  The sun shone for the Show Parade.  It was a good day for the young rugby players but a sad day for the cricketers and the band played on.  It was a day of greeting old friends and making new ones. 

What was my highlight of the day?  It had to be waiting for the “Pet on a Lead” class to take place.  The Press Hut was like a scene from Alice in Wonderland with Pinky the giant white rabbit and Munchkin the ginger and white cat taking up temporary residence. 

The show ended in sunshine when the band marched out of the show ground to play hymns at the bottom of the Street.  They marched out early before the rain started again and I had to run to catch up with them.  It was a wonderful end to a wonderful day. Every single person who turned up to the show deserves a medal.  On Tuesday the sun returned and did you see show report in the Yorkshire Post with the photograph of the cows?  I am already looking forward to next year when, God willing, we will have livestock and sunshine.

The date for the next show is Monday 22nd September 2008.