The Royal County of Berkshire Show

Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September 2009

Click here for details of a talk by Pippa Greenwood, star of BBC Two's Gardeners' World, on Friday 18th September

Double celebrations mark 2009 Show

The countdown is on for a memorable year as the Society celebrates both its Centenary and the 100th anniversary of the first Show which was staged at Enborne Gate Farm, Newbury in September 1909.

Apart from three breaks in the 20th Century when no Show took place – during the first and second world wars and the farming depression of the early 1930s– the event has taken centre stage as a showpiece for the rural and agricultural communities and has grown into one of the leading agricultural shows in the country.

Simon Carter, Chairman of the Show said: “We are looking forward with great enthusiasm to the 2009 Show and to celebrating the Centenary of the Society.  It will be a special year and it is a great honour to be Chairman as we mark this major milestone.”

During the Show, members will have a chance to enjoy a nostalgic look back over the past century with a ‘100 years of the Society’ display  outside the Members Area at the Show.   We can still add your photos and stories to what will be a unique collection.  Please do get in touch with the Show office.

There will be ample chance to revel in the nostalgia of a bygone era as several other local organisations have celebrations in 2009 including Dreweatt Neate which is notching up 250 years and the Berkshire Women’s Institute which will be 90 years young.

Lovers of vintage cars will be able to enjoy the stunning sight of a mass rally of Morgan sports cars from the past century – with at least one from every decade - as the car maker marks 100 years of “British engineering” in 2009.

The Royal County of Berkshire Show will also be helping to celebrate 100 years of Naval airpower as this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Admiralty's visionary decision to order the first airship.

The Royal Navy will be marking this centenary year with a panoply of colourful events and activities throughout the UK, amongst them a visit to the show and fittingly will be taking to the skies above Newbury as the show stealing highlight of action in the main arena.

As well as a flypast by a WW2 Swordfish plane, there will be a buzz in the air as the Royal Navy Raiders Parachute Display team hovers over the showground before landing in the main arena.

The Naval theme will continue with music to entertain the crowds being provided by the Royal Marines Band who will have just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Livestock is expected to attract a higher number of entries than ever in 2009.

The show will be host to the National Show for the Aberdeen-Angus breed. There will be new classes for Devon cattle and in addition, Sunday will see the South West Holstein Calf Championships as Holstein UK also celebrates its centenary this year.

Pig classes are also expected to receive growing support as the championships for the Tamworth breed conclude over the weekend.

As well as the regular showing classes, equestrian enthusiasts will be able to enjoy national jumping classes in the main arena.

For gourmands, this year’s food fare, under the new chairmanship of Rosemary Balsdon, will be a feast for the taste buds with an extra emphasis on championing the cause of local foods and cutting food miles.

The Show starts early for gardening enthusiasts who will have the chance to quiz celebrity gardener Pippa Greenwood at a special Gardeners’ Question Time on Friday evening (18th Sept).

The now traditional spectacle of the mass balloon ascent will ensure that the show ends on a high note on both Saturday and Sunday evenings.