Alnwick, Showing history

It was an interesting talk to a packed meeting of 33 members as she started by telling us the history of the show.

The first meeting to set up the show was in April 1892, at the Tankerville Arms.

The big family names at the time were Barbers and Lamptons. Even trains were organised to bring people, and the secretary was paid £10, a lot of money in those days.

Statistics for the opening showed subs at 10 shillings. A total of £143 was collected for classes to show, and £104 on the gate – quite a substantial sum as the entrance fee was only six old pence.

Over the years many events were added, such as a beer tent in 1898, honey stalls and tradesman and driving horses competitions.

In 1900 a band from Blyth was brought in at a cost of £9 9s. In 1909 a hedge and ploughing contest was introduced and cost one shilling to enter. This was paid by the ploughman himself and 41 entrants had to plough a furrow seven inches deep.

In 1919 the first meeting after the war was held with little attendance. The records show this was due to the loss of lives in the war.

The amount of knowledge that Margaret has on the history was evident to the meeting.

Events continued over the years to build on the success of the show. This was totally down to the enthusiastic people who cared deeply about it.

So much information was given it was impossible to take it all in. We can recommend that any group that Margaret visits would be more than entertained by her enthusiastic presentation of the history of Glendale Show. It is well worth readers making every effort to attend the show in 2016.

A vote of thanks was given by Colin Smith on behalf of the Probus group.