Show organisers present donations in return for help

Vice Chairman Bill Gower, new Chairman Rita Dingwall and past Chairman Graham Mosey

Twenty one local charities and organisations have received a share of the £17,000 raised from the Heathfield Agricultural Show this year as a thank you for helping at the event.

They include: 4×4 Assist; Broad Oak Primary School PTA; Broad Oak & Punnets Town Scouts & Football club; Burwash Scouts;  East Hoathly & Halland Carnival Society; Heathfield Street Pastors; Heathfield Silver Band; Heathfield & Waldron Rugby Club; Heathfield Volunteers; Heathield Rotarians; Horam Friends of Cancer Research; Horam Scouts; Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance; Kipling Group of the Driving for the Disabled; Friends of St George’s Church, Broad Oak; Sussex Young Farmers; Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Football Club and Wealden Works.

The Heathfield Agricultural Show relies on a huge army of volunteers to help with everything from managing the car parks, stewarding and washing down the animal pens at the end of the event.

John Shepherd receiving a donation for St George’s Church

In July each year the Chairman and Council of the Heathfield & District Agricultural Society hold a special event as a thank you to all the Committee member volunteers. It is also an opportunity to present cheques to the organisations that helped with the Show.

Past Chairman Graham Mosey used the occasion to hand over the baton to the new Chairman and former Vice Chairman Rita Dingwall who will hold the position for the next three years.

The Heathfield Agricultural Show has been a highlight of the local calendar for more than 70 years and Rita says she is delighted to take the helm of an event that is very close to her heart.

She explains: “I remember coming to the Show when I was about five years old and have always loved it. I’ve been involved in many guises and started off competing in the equestrian events before I became a horse steward and then joined the Horse Committee. I have been on the Show Council for several years so I have learned much about the running of the show from colleagues and predecessors.

Sue Mosey (second on left), representing Cuckoo for Cancer, receiving a donation on behalf of Cuckoo for Cancer

“I was honoured to be asked and have shadowed Graham for three years. My role now is to observe all the Committees and advise, where I can, on general Show protocol and ensure everything is running smoothly and to timetable during the year building up to Show day.  I will represent the Show at other local events and ensure that the Heathfield & District Agricultural Show remains an iconic event in the area and one that everyone who lives locally can be proud of.”

Rita says the best part of the Show for her is on the Friday afternoon when everything is set up in anticipation for the opening the next day.

Bill Gower, John Lomas of Heathfield & Waldron Rugby Football Club, Rita Dingwall and Graham Mosey

“Heathfield and the Show are in my blood. I competed in the Show from age 11 and have been involved and lived locally ever since. I have huge shoes to fill and am looking forward to the challenge with excitement and a small amount of trepidation. I hope to keep all the traditions of the Show but also bring in new ideas to sustain the viability of the Show as the costs rise. I also want to get more people to volunteer and more businesses involved in this amazing event,” she added.

Heathfield & Waldron Rugby Football Club is one of the organisations that is critical to the safe running of the event. John Llamas, Funding Manager, explains: “We have 200 volunteers helping with things like parking and traffic management. It’s a significant event for us which functions on goodwill and volunteers and I think the club getting involved sends an important message to the next generation. If people see us volunteering and enjoying ourselves then we hope they will want to do the same.”

Mary Masters (second on left) receiving a donation on behalf of Sussex Young Farmers

Around 18,000 visitors attended this year’s Show compared to 17,000 last year. Past Chairman Graham Mosey said he was very happy with the attendance. “There were more agricultural stands this year and fewer concessions which people seemed to like. We had many more compliments about the Show this year and no complaints about anything which was very pleasing.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved and everyone who came to the event. Our sponsors are particularly important as we couldn’t put on the Show without them. We need sponsors at any level for next year.”

This year’s sponsors included: AGRIFACTORS LTD www.agrifactors.co.uk;  ALAN HUSSEY ACCOUNTANTS LLP; ANDY VATER www.andyvaterremovals.co.uk  ; ANN BENSON / ROWLAND HUGHES; APPLEBY PETFIELD SURVEYORS www.ap-surveyors.co.uk; B & W FEEDS www.bwfeeds.com; BATCHELLER MONKHOUSE www.batchellermonkhouse.com; MRS HILARY BECVAR; BELL AGRICULTURAL www.bellagricultural.co.uk; BOARS HEAD SIMMENTALS www.boarsheadsimmentals.co.uk; BUCKHURST ESTATES www.buckhurstpark.co.uk; CELINE FINDLAY & ASSOC LTD; MR J CHAMBERS CLIFFE EQUINE www.cliffeequine.co.uk; MS LIN COLLINS; COMPLETE LAND MANAGEMENT
www.c-l-m.co.uk COUNTY INSURANCE www.county-insurance.co.uk; COURTNEY BENNETT FAMILY Donation COURTNEY COMMERCIAL www.jeremycourtney.co.uk; CRAWFORDS www.rwcrawford.co.uk ; CURTIS AND SHAW www.curtisandshaw.co.uk ;DEXTER SOCIETY SE GROUP www.dextercattle.co.uk; DSC SUPPLIES; DUNSTARS FARM; ERNEST DOE POWER www.ernestdoepower.com/agriculture.html; ERNEST WEST & BEYNON www.westbeynon.co.uk; ERODITE; EUROPLANTS LTD www.europlants.ltd.uk; FARMBANKMANAGER www.farmbankmanager.co.uk; FORESTERS www.forestersxl.com; FOUR JAYS www.fourjays.co.uk; FREEMAN FORMAN www.freemanforman.co.uk ; FRENCH & SON LTD www.frenchandson.co.uk; MRS ANN GERRARD; H & R HUGHES www.hrhlaw.co.uk; HARVEYS
www.harveys.org.uk; HEATHFIELD HIRE www.heathfieldhire.co.uk; HEATHFIELD NEWS
www.theheathfieldnews.co.uk; HEATHFIELD VETS www.heathfieldvets.co.uk; HICKS OF HEATHFIELD
www.hicksofheathfield.co.uk ; HOBBS PARKER www.hobbsparker.co.uk; HOUNDSELL KENNELS
www.houndsellkennels.co.uk; HUGHES FRESH FRUIT www.hughesfreshfruit.com ; K DRURY & SONS
MR & MRS M KITCHIN LAMBERT & FOSTER www.lambertandfoster.co.uk; MRS S A LAWRENCE
LITTLEWOOD FENCING www.littlewoodfencing.co.uk; LIVINGSTONE COMMUNICATION
MR & MRS D LOGAN; MAGNET MEDIA www.magnetpublications.co.uk; MANNINGTONS ACCOUNTANTS www.manningtons.net ; MARTEN INVESTMENTS; MELINA JOY OPTICIANS
www.melinajoy.co.uk; MERRIE HARRIERS www.merrieharriers.co.uk; MOLE VALLEY FARMERS
www.molevalleyfarmers.com; N R COPPARD GROUNDWORKS www.coppard-groundworks.co.uk;
NEWTON & FROST FENCING LTD www.nffltd.co.uk; NFU MUTUAL www.nfumutual.co.uk;
NSR COMMUNICATIONS www.nsrcommunications.co.uk; P J SKIPS www.pj-skips.co.uk; LT COL RJA PATERSON-FOX, MRS DIANA PATERSON-FOX; PETER WRIGHT PROPERTY SEARCH; PEUSSA/HINCHEY FAMILY; RANDLE FARMS; MRS NIMA REID; ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP BREEDERS www.romneysheepuk.com/; ROUND WOOD TIMBER www.roundwoodtimber.com; ROWLAND GORRINGE ESTATE AGENTS www.rowlandgorringe.co.uk; S K HUTCHINGS BUTCHER & GRAZIERS; MR J M SANDERSON SEMEX www.semex.co.uk; SGE SEAL www.sgeseal.co.uk
MR & MRS S SHARPE; MR ANDREW SIGGS SILCOCKS FARM SHOP www.silcocksfarm-organics.co.uk/ ;
MR & MRS M SILVESTER SIMON TINGLEY AGRIPLANT SERVICES SMITHERS BUTCHERS
www.smithersbutchers.co.uk; SOS FURNITURE; SOUTH EAST FARMER www.southeastfarmer.net ; SOUTH EAST GUERNSEY BREED SOCIETY www.guernseycattle.com ; www.southeastmarts.co.uk
SOUTH EASTERN TEXEL GROUP www.texel.co.uk/groups; SOUTHDOWN & ERIDGE HUNT
www.southdownanderidge.org.uk; SOUTHERN POOLS www.southernpoolsheathfield.co.uk
STEVE’S LOGS www.steveslogs.com; SUSSEX CATTLE SOCIETY www.sussexcattlesociety.org.uk; SUSSEX COUNTRY GARDENER www.sussexcountrygardener.co.uk; SUSSEX STEEL CONSTRUCTION; TF & RD STEPHENS MARKETING; THORNDEAN FARM; TOOKEY MEMORIALS LTD www.tookeymemorials.co.uk; UCKFIELD VETS www.uckfieldvets.co.uk; UNSWORTH WHITE MANAGEMENT www.unsworthwhite.co.uk; VICCARRI WHEELE www.viccariwheele.co.uk; VILLAGE HEATING COMPANY www.villageheatingcompany.co.uk; WARNERS LAW LLP www.warners-solicitors.co.uk; WATSONS AUCTIONS www.watsonsauctioneers.co.uk  and WOOLLARD EARTH MOVING.

If you would like to get involved in next year’s event either with a trade stand, as a volunteer or a sponsor please contact the Show Secretary Nicola Magill secretary@heathfieldshow.org