People
Tenbury Show is run entirely by volunteers. In some cases, several generations of families have played, and still play to this day, an active role in the organising one of the U.K.’s biggest single day shows.
President – Stuart Ward
I am Stuart Ward, third generation farming at Lower House Farm, Eastham, generously supported by my family. Tenbury Show has always been part of my farming calendar and my earliest involvement was helping to steward commercial cattle on Palmers Meadow. In subsequent years I’ve tried to be available prior to the day to help with the setting up of our show.
I like to follow the National Hunt Racing at Ludlow and holidaying in our touring caravan – France being our favourite destination.
I’m very honoured to be asked to be President for 2024 and wish the Society many more successful years to come.
Vice President – Richard Hyde
I went to school at St. Mary’s Rochford, St Michael’s Oldwood, Kings Worcester and then to the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester. I have worked at Truro, Cirencester and Cambridge markets before returning to Hereford, Talgarth and laterally Builth Wells markets from 1986 to present day.
I am a chartered surveyor but have specialised in livestock and machinery sales together with agricultural property sales. I was a partner of Sunderlands until reaching a big birthday this year and remain as a consultant and am still a director of Hereford, Builth and Talgarth livestock markets.
As far as I can remember, I have missed Tenbury Show on only two occasions in 65 years. My first duties at Tenbury Show were car parking. In 1993 I had the meteoric promotion to commentator, and I hope I haven’t bored you all to distraction ever since.
It is probably fair to say that I am fanatical about the livestock auction system, which I believe provides farmers with the best way to create the highest prices for their livestock. We have invested heavily in our three livestock markets to try to provide 21st century facilities and make marketing as enjoyable as possible. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the agricultural community for the whole of my life and despite being slightly cantankerous on occasions they are all business people who are dedicated to food production. I wholeheartedly support this, as this nation must move as close as possible to food self-sufficiency to prevent the possibility of being held to ransom by other nations if commodities become scarce.
It is a tremendous and unexpected honour to be asked to be president of Tenbury Agricultural Society and I hope that I will be able to bring enthusiasm and passion for the celebration of good food and its production, which Tenbury Show and the society exemplifies.
It would be my greatest delight to get the Rolling Stones, or Pink Floyd, as the main ring attraction in 2024 but I think this may be beyond Nick Champion’s budget!
Roll on 2025!
Chairperson – David Rawlings
Hello, my name is David Rawlings and I would like to introduce myself to you as the Chairman of Tenbury Show.
I have been married to my wife Michelle for almost twenty years and farm with my father, Richard Rawlings at Greete Court.
In 2008 I was asked to organise the harvest theme for the 150th Anniversary Show. From then on I have organised the Tractor Pulling for the Show which draws a great audience with plenty of smoke, dust and noise.
My hobbies are restoring crawlers, tractors and combines which I have shown at Tenbury Show over the years.
I am also Chairman of The Brimfield Vintage Club and have been for the last 20 years. I took it over with just 8 members in the club and I am glad to say that over the years we have grown to now over 60 members and still growing.
I look forward to seeing you all at the next Tenbury Show.
Show Secretary & Director – Rose Ayres
Having enjoyed attending Tenbury Show from a child and being involved with the Young Farmers Tent on Show day for a number of years, when the advertisement came for an Assistant Secretary in 1996, I jumped at the chance and have never looked back! Over the years, I took on more and more responsibility and a number of years later I was made Show Secretary and then in 2018, I had the great honour of being made a Director.
A great highlight was moving onto our new riverside showground for our 150th Anniversary in 2008. What a wonderful year it was, with the Ox Roast, launching of our book ‘Changing Scenes’, President’s Ball and a spectacular Summer Show with the ‘Dancing Diggers’. Since then the Show has grown and gone from strength to strength, with the help of so many wonderful Committee members and volunteers.
Due to the expansion of the Show, in 2015 the Society started to rent an office in the Town at 3 Market Street. This has been an immense help in promoting the Society, especially in the run up to the Show.
I am so looking forward to holding our Show again in August.
