Burwarton Show back with a bang this year
The chairman of Shropshire's biggest agricultural show has revealed he was 'absolutely devastated' after being forced to call off the event last year – but vowed it will be back with a bang in 2013.
Richard Yates, chairman of Burwarton Show, said thousands of pounds and hours of planning went down the drain when heavy downpours scuppered the 2012 event.
The committee had spent an extra £31,000 on roads, parking and gateways in the last few years to try and prevent a washout.
Mr Yates, addressing the Burwarton AGM, called on the committee to pull together to make this year's event one of its finest shows.
Sufficient
He said: "Committee members held a comprehensive review of the show and are adamant that, despite an improvement in the weather prior to show day, ground conditions were still far from suitable for the hosting of a show on land that, of course, we do not own.
"With the agreement of the charity commission, the society has over the years kept in reserve sufficient funds to cover the costs of hosting a show – currently over £200,000 – in case a cancellation may occur in the few days immediately before show day, when the maximum expenditure would be incurred.
"In common with virtually every show in the country, Burwarton does not have cancellation insurance.
"But by cancelling relatively early, some unnecessary expenditure was avoided, leaving a cost to the society of £38,000.
"This is the time for us all to pull together and make 2013 one of our finest shows."
