Visit by cricketer Alec Stewart to the Lincolnshire Show
Story by Daniel Clark, volunteer press steward, currently a student at University of Lincoln
For pictures to download : click here
There was a special visit to the Sports zone at this year’s Lincolnshire Show when ex England and Surrey wicket-keeper Alec Stewart visited the ECB cricket factory to pass on his knowledge and experience in the game. Stewart visited the show as part of his role as sports ambassador for Clydesdale Bank, the main sponsors of the Lincolnshire Show.
Alec Stewart gave a short master class to four young cricketers, where he showed them the correct technique to playing on the front foot when batting and how to throw accurately at the stumps. He also managed a brief moment to show that he could still play that exquistic front foot drive that made him such a success as a wicket keeper batsman for so many years. After the session Alec stayed to sign merchandise and to pose for pictures.
Alec’s visit was an important one for the sponsors of Clydesdale Bank; he spoke to the media on his role for the show’s main sponsor, saying:
“My role as sports ambassador is to encourage people to get involved into sport and to stress the importance of sport in everyday life”.
With this summer’s calendar packed full of major sporting competitions it was fitting that an ex professional sportsman visited the show.
Alec also explained how he got into cricket and the amount of time he spent playing the sport as a youngster: “Whenever I had a spare moment I would have a bat in my hand or I would be throwing a ball around”.
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Special evening concert announced for county show
There’s a rumble in the bush, that’s sure to keep toes tapping at this year’s Lincolnshire Show...
For local band the Bush Doctors is set to perform a special evening concert to entertain the crowds on the Wednesday evening after the main Show programmes closes.
The band is made up of Richard Askam on lead vocals, Richard Banks on lead guitar, Jo Banks on bass and local farmer Bob Greetham on drums and they will be performing for members of the Agricultural Society. The cover band has been playing to audiences all over the UK during the past 12 years, and this year sees them playing the outdoor stage at the Lincolnshire Show on Wednesday June 20th, in the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society members’ area.
And according to lead singer Richard, the band will be delivering a set that’s designed to suit all tastes and guarantee everyone is swinging at this year’s Show. "We have been working on the set list for this gig and think we have come up with the perfect blend of classic tracks that will suit the audience. I have been coming to the Lincolnshire Show for many years and can't wait to rock the members on the Wednesday evening," said Richard. “Our drummer is a Lincolnshire farmer and a member of the Agricultural Society and I have enjoyed the hospitality in the members’ bar over the years courtesy of my father in law who is another farmer.”
“This promises to be one of the biggest and best gigs of our summer schedule."
Karen Malpass, who handles membership at Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, added: “Membership isn’t just restricted to the farming community, as it’s open to all. Many local people join up because of the benefits they get – as well as free entrance to the Show on both days and special events such as this great concert that’s planned withe the Bush Doctors, they also get special invitations to other events outside the Show and discounts with local businesses.”
More details about the show and membership is on the web at www.lincolnshireshow.co.uk or by calling 01522 585504. www.lincolnshireshow.co.uk @lincsshow
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Media enquiries: Karen Malpass at Lincolnshire Events Centre in Lincolnshire Agricultural Society kmalpass@lincs-events.co.uk - 01522 585504
Maggie Taylor at Prima PR maggie@primapr.co.uk – 01400 251557 / 0797 3767 602
Editor’s Note: Lincolnshire Events Centre is a major national conferencing venue, home of the Lincolnshire Show and the groundbreaking EPIC project. Just outside the historic city of Lincoln, the Centre hosts events for 10 to 10,000 visitors on its 200 acre showground site and 3000 square metres of indoor exhibition and venue space. Outdoor events include the flagship Lincolnshire Show, antiques fairs and horse trials, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. Under cover, there are exhibition halls and conferencing facilities, including the recently completed EPIC centre, the second largest purpose-designed showcase for environmental technologies in the UK, it enables event organisers to reduce, monitor and offset their carbon footprint.
Drew keeps the traffic flowing at the Lincolnshire Show
Local farmer Drew Smith is a man who likes a challenge.
When he’s not working on the family arable and livestock business in the Lincolnshire Wolds, or as a director of Louth Tractors machinery dealership, he takes on the complex task of overseeing the movement of 12,500 cars a day on and off the Lincolnshire Showground site.
As chief traffic steward for the annual Lincolnshire Show, Drew Smith has been heading up the traffic management team for more than twenty years. A volunteer, like the 200 plus stewards who work together to create each year’s Lincolnshire Show, he has led the way on many changes that have transformed the visitor experience over the past decade, speeding up the time it takes for each vehicle to get on and off site.
He explained: “We have introduced many changes, such as the changeover from charging per vehicle for entry, to free car parking combined with individual entry tickets. “This created an immediate and dramatic improvement on our traffic management. Despite increasing the number of cars coming through, we managed to cut the queues down to virtually none, where it had previously taken as long as one hour to get in.“
The other major change for car drivers visiting the Show, has been the increase in the number of hardstanding and roads across the 200 acre showground site at Grange de Lings.
Drew added: “We’re very lucky to have fast draining soil here at the Showground, and the hard roads have made a big difference and allowed us to reduce our wet weather contingency plans, which involve holding cars back and avoiding too many vehicles travelling over any individual route, to avoid churning up the site.”
He added: “We have two days of Show each year, but there are lots of other events taking place in the weeks before and after, and the Showground has to look its best all the time, so we have to minimise the impact of all the vehicle movements before, during and after Show.”
Each year the layout is reviewed and improved, with Drew and his team scrutinising aerial shots to see how things are working and where improvements can be made for future. “None of this would be possible without my trusty team of stewards, who have worked together for over 10 years,” added Drew.
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Final update for press attending the Lincolnshire Show 2012
Before the Show:
Day One press conference and interview opportunities: See the list of interview and picture opportunities for details of the press conference slot on day one and some suggested photo and interview slots. Photo and interview opportunities
Press packs, maps and programme: Now available for download the press pack:LincsShow2012_presspack and also map and full PDF of the programme – click here.
Getting into Show:
Press passes and proof of identity: You must have a press pass showing your name and the correct date of entry. To enter the Show you will have to show your press pass and produce matching proof of identity. This should be your business card showing your name, job title and publication, or otherwise your photocard driving licence. Remember: Press passes are valid for one person, as named, for one day, as printed.
Change of name: If any personnel have changed, just log back on to the Evenbrite site and make your changes and download new passes.
Gates and car parking: All car parking is free and you can enter from any of the numbered gates (see the map on the press feed).
At the Show:
Register: Come to the Press Tent on Eighth Avenue, not far from the EPIC Centre to get your badge and a press pack. You will need your press badge to access the Wednesday morning press conference. If you require access to other restricted areas, make your request in the press tent and passes can be provided on request on a timed slot basis. There are drinks during the day and sandwiches at lunchtime.
Wi Fi: Available in the press tent, log on as follows:
SSID: BTBusinessHub-250 Password: 2025065247
Tweeting? Hash tag for the Show is #LincsShow
Photo and interview opportunities : Lincolnshire Show 2012
Eve of Show : Tuesday 19th June 2012
Final preparations and activity taking place throughout the day – final preparations, such as the eight miles of hedges which will be trimmed ready, al the livestock and horses coming in, the final exhibitors getting set up.
Interviewees available include:
Generally : Society Director Jayne Southall and Honorary Show Director Richard Collett
Traffic preparation for the movement of 12500 cars each day of Show : Drew Smith
Catering on site this year has the emphasis on smaller companies and local produce : Robert Howard
Other chief stewards on their area of responsibility: Peter Vergette for Trade stands; Tim Needham for the Countryside area; Peter Crafts for Equine; Andrew Read for Livestock; Richard Crust for Mews and Food Court
Day 1 of Show : Wednesday 20th June 2012
10.00 : Schoolchildren try sausage making in the Schools’ Challenge area
11.00-11.20 : Press conference : Tennyson Pavilion : President Lord Taylor of Holbeach; Chairman John Lockwood, Honorary Director Richard Collette; Society Director Jayne Southall
11.30 and 3.30 : Pig racing : Countryside Ring
11.45 -12.45 : Cricketer Alec Stewart taking part in the Sports Zone
12.00 : Shire horses in the Welton Ring in the Equine zone
12.30 : Leicester Tigers coaches in the Countryside Ring
12.45 : Knights of the Damned in the Clydesdale Bank Main Ring
1.40 : Grand parade of machinery : Clydesdale Bank Main Ring : focus on crop protection and nutrition including a huge Terragator 9105 muck spreader and a Househam Sprayer plus 26 vintage tractors.
2.00 : Scruffts cross breed dog competition in the Dog ring
3.00 : The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Dakota will be flying over the Lincolnshire Show
3.10 : Young Farmers Trailer Parade : Clydesdale Bank Main Ring
4.20 : Knights of the Damned in the Clydesdale Bank Main Ring
All day : On display at the Lincoln Cathedral stand is a stone Jubilee Crown presented to HM The Queen earlier this month. On show before it is fixed to the top of the south west turret of the Cathedral, out of view of most people. The crown is highly decorated with gold leaf and paint and is a wonderful piece of work.
Day 2 of Show : Thursday 21st June 2012
10.00 – 10.45 (and throughout both days of Show) : TV chef Rachel Cook demonstrating in the Food Court with local produce
11.30 and 3.30 : Pig racing : Countryside Ring
12.15 – 12.30 : President Lord Taylor of Holbeach in the press tent for brief interviews
12.30 : Leicester Tigers coaches in the Countryside Ring
11.25 : Knights of the Damned in the Clydesdale Bank Main Ring
1.50 : Grand parade of machinery : Clydesdale Bank Main Ring : focus on crop protection and nutrition including a huge Terragator 9105 muck spreader and a Househam Sprayer plus 26 vintage tractors.
2.00 : Scruffts cross breed dog competition in the Dog ring
3.20 : Knights of the Damned in the Clydesdale Bank Main Ring
5.10 : Young Farmers Trailer Parade : Clydesdale Bank Main Ring
All day: Young Farmers have an eye-catching 30 foot pig, a sleeping sow with a special show describing the life of pigs on screens inside her huge belly.
Throughout show:
Interviewes can be arranged throughout the Show on request with Society Director Jayne Southall, Honorary Show Director Richard Collett and all the chief stewards.
Press update for Lincolnshire Show 2012 : programme, site map and wifi access
Click here for all information and press releases relating to the Lincolnshire Show 2012
Archive images from 2011 show are available for download here : click here
As soon as possible images from this year's Show will be available online : click here
For the 2012 Lincolnshire Show the wifi access in the press tent will be :
SSID: BTBusinessHub-250
Password: 2025065247
Twitter hashtag: #lincsshow
PDF version of the official progranme, for download by accredited media only:
Lincolnshire Show Official Programme 2012
Lincolnshire Show 2012 : Site Map
Day One press conference and other interview opportunities:
For details of the press conference on day one and some suggested photo and interview slots. Photo and interview opportunities
For the press pack: LincsShow2012_presspack
Business showcase to boost Lincolnshire exports
A special initiative has been launched that will bring Lincolnshire’s biggest exporters together next month, in a move designed to encourage more local companies to export their products to new markets.
Trading in New Markets is a new initiative for the Lincolnshire Show 2012, taking place on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st June 2012. Designed to celebrate the successes of those already trading nationally and internationally, its aim is to encourage other Lincolnshire businesses to open up new export markets and take their products to a wider audience.
It’s a joint initiative from Lincolnshire Agricultural Society together with UK Trade & Investment, Lincolnshire County Council and the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, and locally-based exporters taking part include companies from agricultural, engineering, food production and the motor industry.
“We will be celebrating the inventiveness, initiative and hard work of companies based within the county that are already trading successfully both domestically and internationally,” said Jayne Southall, director of Lincolnshire Agricultural Society.
She added: “It’s already a big success with the number and range of companies wanting to take part, but it’s also proved a boost for the Show itself as we’ve raised awareness with a number of companies saying they’ve been missing an opportunity to connect with their customers and local market by not joining the Show before.”
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@lincsshow
LincolnshireAgriculturalSociety
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Media enquiries:
Karen Malpass at Lincolnshire Events Centre in Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
kmalpass@lincs-events.co.uk - 01522 585504
Maggie Taylor at Prima PR
maggie@primapr.co.uk – 01400 251557 / 0797 3767 602
Editor’s Note:
Lincolnshire Events Centre is a major national conferencing venue, home of the Lincolnshire Show and the groundbreaking EPIC project. Just outside the historic city of Lincoln, the Centre hosts events for 10 to 10,000 visitors on its 200 acre showground site and 3000 square metres of indoor exhibition and venue space.
Outdoor events include the flagship Lincolnshire Show, antiques fairs and horse trials, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. Under cover, there are exhibition halls and conferencing facilities, including the recently completed EPIC centre, the second largest purpose-designed showcase for environmental technologies in the UK, it enables event organisers to reduce, monitor and offset their carbon footprint.
Lincolnshire gears up for its annual agricultural showcase
Over 60,000 visitors are expected at this year’s Lincolnshire Show on 20th and 21st June, to learn about the importance of agriculture and farming in the life of the county.
Reflecting the agricultural heart to the Show, this year’s events will include the ever popular pig racing; the spectacular Grand Parade of the best of the county’s livestock and the vintage to modern day agricultural machinery display.
As well as the county’s finest animals on show, there will be a mix of rural and family attractions, including the best of Lincolnshire produce at the massive Select Lincolnshire and Tastes of Lincolnshire Food Court, including the launch of a major new Lincolnshire cheese from Lymn Bank Cheese of Thorpe St Peter, near Skegness.
Produced with local milk from nearby Rich Pastures Dairy, the Skegness Blue cheese will be unveiled by cheese maker Stephen Grinstead, who is looking for national markets for his traditionally produced, blue veined cheese. He said: “It’s gone well in the trials and we’ve come up with something that is slightly creamier and less blue than a stilton. We’re hoping it will become one of the biggest sellers in the country.” Lymn Bank Cheese plan to launch another new cheese later this year - Skegness Gold – which is a naturally cloth bound cheddar.
The Lincolnshire Show will also host three of the giant Quadtracs that will be taking part in a world record attempt in the county later this year, for the most cultivating Quadtracs in one field, with organisers hoping to have more than 20 of the machines taking part. The attempt has been launched by fourth generation farmer Helen Clarke in memory of her father John Rainthorpe.
The Discovery Zone will be hosting Pork to Fork : The story of the Sausage, explaining how one of Lincolnshire’s most famous products reaches the table, and other Show performances will range from falconry to bee keeping.
Also making a second appearance are dogs on the Lincolnshire Showground. For the second year running, dogs will be allowed into the Show, and Scruffts have confirmed that they will be running a regional heat on both days of the Show this year for their Family Crossbreed Dog of the Year competition.
The Show has retained its major sponsors, with Clydesdale Bank and Duckworth’s Land Rover on board for a further year and director Jayne Southall has confirmed that the Show will continue in its mid-week slot in future years, saying this is the strongest way to retain its agricultural heart.
She explained: “We are set on innovation and continuing to broaden our appeal, but the Show must support our core charitable aims – which are to promote understanding, and awareness of the role played in the county by agriculture and food production - and we must have the agricultural community fully on board.”
She added: “The Show is still the county’s best kept secret. We’ve pushed up to more than 60,000 visitors but there is still huge potential and we’re set on increasing numbers of both visitors and exhibitors in 2012. I want to develop more involvement in the Society by young people and further boost our links with education.”
The Lord Taylor of Holbeach, CBE, Government minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and head of one of the UK’s leading horticultural companies is this year’s President of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society.
In the presidential role, Lord Taylor will represent the Society at the Lincolnshire Show.
He said: “The Society plays an important part in the economic life of Lincolnshire as well as performing a great task as advocate for the agricultural and horticultural industry, in what is the country’s premier agricultural county.”
Twitter: @lincsshow
Facebook: LincolnshireAgriculturalSociety
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Karen Malpass at Lincolnshire Events Centre in Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
kmalpass@lincs-events.co.uk - 01522 585504
Maggie Taylor at Prima PR
maggie@primapr.co.uk – 01400 251557 / 0797 3767 602
Editor’s Note:
Lincolnshire Events Centre is a major national conferencing venue, home of the Lincolnshire Show and the groundbreaking EPIC project. Just outside the historic city of Lincoln, the Centre hosts events for 10 to 10,000 visitors on its 200 acre showground site and 3000 square metres of indoor exhibition and venue space.
Outdoor events include the flagship Lincolnshire Show, antiques fairs and horse trials, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. Under cover, there are exhibition halls and conferencing facilities, including the recently completed EPIC centre, the second largest purpose-designed showcase for environmental technologies in the UK, it enables event organisers to reduce, monitor and offset their carbon footprint.
Schools are set for a sizzling time at this year’s Lincolnshire Show
More than a thousand young people will be taking part in the Schools Challenge at this year’s Lincolnshire Show, in the competition which tests their understanding of food, farming and agriculture.
This year’s challenges range from learning about the optimum growing conditions for potatoes to coming up with a marketing strategy to encourage young people to visit the Lincolnshire Show.
And there are 46 primary, secondary and special schools taking part this year – more than ever before, as organisers have expanded the Show schedule to allow more entrants.
“We’ve been oversubscribed every year so for 2012, we’ve adapted the judging timetable to take place over two days, and have taken over the whole of the main exhibition hall to satisfy demand from schools,” explained Phil Everett of Lincolnshire Education Business Partnership, organisers of the competition, which is sponsored by Farmacy, Uncle Henry’s, Barbara Welby Trust and E Park and Sons.
Also on the timetable for schools will be a visit to the Show’s Discovery Zone, where they will be shown farming techniques and food production methods at first hand, including From Pork to Fork: The Story of the Sausage. They can then try their hand by having a go at making sausages back in the Schools Challenge area, with Uncle Henry’s cafe and farm shop.
Alongside the Schools Challenge, many more schools visit the Show for educational visits to learn about agriculture and farming in their home county.
The Schools Challenge also includes a professional development day for teaching staff on the first day of the Lincolnshire Show, and this year the theme is conservation, which is being supported by the Woodland Trust , Farming and Countryside Education (FACE), Sustainable East Midlands and Uncle Henry’s.
To book visits or find out more about the Schools Challenge, contact Phil Everett at the Lincolnshire Education Business Partnership, on 01522 574100
The full list of schools taking part (in alphabetical order):
Ancaster CE Primary School
The Axholme Academy
Bishop King CE Primary School
Branston Junior School
Dunholme St Chad's C of E School
Grantham Additional Needs Federation
Grasby All Saints C of E Primary School
Grimoldby Primary School
Hartsholme Academy
Hawtonville Junior School
Hibaldstow Primary School
Humberston C or E Primary School
Ingham Primary School
John Fielding Community Special School
Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy
Lacey Gardens Junior School
Lady Jane Franklin School
Lincoln Christ's Hospital School
Marton Primary School
Monks Abbey Primary
North Kesteven School
Osgodby Primary School
The Priory School
The Priory Witham Academy
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar - A Selective Academy (Alford)
Saint Norbert's Catholic Primary School
Scampton CE Primary School
Scawby Primary School
Sir John Gleed School
Sir William Robertson High School
South Parade Primary School
Spalding Monkshouse Primary School
St Bernards School
St Francis Special School
St Georges Academy
The St Lawrence Academy
St Lawrence School
Stamford Queen Eleanor School
Tetney Primary School
Toynton All Saints Primary School
Trent Valley Academy
Welton St Mary's CE Primary School
Wragby Primary School
The challenges:
01 Alternative Materials
Curriculum Links: Science, Citizenship
Students investigate non-food crops and research the carbon footprint of their school.
They should develop ideas on how to make their school more sustainable and compare the
available fuel options to find which would be most suitable for use in school.
02 Improving my School Grounds
Curriculum Links: Art and Design, Citizenship, Geography
Students are tasked with the challenge to improve their school grounds. They should
create a design portfolio of their ideas which should encourage input from the wider school
community. Previous examples have included a sensory garden and a vegetable patch.
03 Farming Past, Present and Future
Curriculum Link: History
Students compare the technology and culture of the past, present and future farming
communities within their local area. Students can present their timeline, using any method
that engages the audience.
04 Design a Healthy School Dinner
Curriculum Links: Design and Technology – Food Technology
Students research what is meant by healthy eating and use this to plan a menu of a healthy
two-course meal that could be served at school. Where possible, ingredients should be
home-grown or locally produced.
05 Advertising the Lincolnshire Show
Curriculum Links: ICT, Media studies, Business Studies
Students critically analyse the existing strategies used to advertise the Lincolnshire Show.
They should then develop new concepts which will promote The Show to young people whilst
reducing the environmental impact of the event.
06 Growing around the Globe
Curriculum Links: Modern Foreign Languages, Citizenship
Students investigate which crops grow best in the British climate and compare these with the
types of crops which would thrive in a school garden on a different continent. They should
contact this school by post or email in the correct language if feasible.
07 The Potato Challenge
Curriculum Links: Design and Technology, Science
Students grow potatoes and experiment to find the optimum growing conditions. They may
develop recipes using their potatoes, which, along with the remaining potato plants will be
judged at The Lincolnshire Show.
08 Design from Nature
Curriculum Links: Art and Design
Students study a range of design techniques using different shapes, fabrics and textures. They
should then research designs from nature which can be replicated
Lincolnshire Show cooks up some doggie treats
The Lincolnshire Show has announced that dogs will be allowed on the Showground for the second year running, with an on-site doggie crèche available on both days.
And Scruffts have confirmed that they will be running a regional heat on both days of the Show for their Family Crossbreed Dog of the Year competition, giving Lincolnshire two regional winners in the 2012 national final.
There will also be a special appearance from Merlin, the ambassador dog for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, who is on a special mission to raise £30,000 for the charity during its 30th anniversary year. The charity trains dogs to alert deaf people to important sounds and danger signals in the home, work place and public buildings.
The canine-crèche will be run once again by local animal charity Jerry Green Dog Rescue, providing a dog care/ rest service for visitors. “This is ideal for when dog owners are touring the areas of the show that don't allow dogs, or simply if their dog is getting tired or overwhelmed by all the people. It will be run by our experienced rescue workers and they will be ensuring a calm and comfortable environment,” said Rosina Myers, the canine behavioural advisor for the Jerry Green charity.
Speaking for the Lincolnshire Show, marketing coordinator Karen Malpass said: “The first year of dogs on site went down very well with everyone, so we were confident it should be repeated this year. Obviously dogs have to be on leads and some areas are out of bounds, but we are certainly looking forward to more happy tail wagging this year!”
Crossbreed dog owners who are visiting the Show and are interested in competing in the Scruffts competition do not need to pre-book. There is a £1 entry fee for each dog entered into the competition, with all the money raised going to the Kennel Club Charitable Trust.
The judges will be looking for good character, health and temperament in the following classes:
- Most handsome Crossbreed Dog (6 months – 7 years)
- Prettiest Crossbreed Bitch (6 months – 7 years)
- Child’s Best Friend* (6 months – 12 years) *handled by a young person between 6 and 16 years of age with the permission of the parent or guardian.
- Golden Oldie Crossbreed 8 years over
Visit the Lincolnshire Show website at www.lincolnshireshow.co.uk for more information and to book your tickets or call the ticket hotline on 0845 2305171
Twitter: @lincsshow
Facebook: LincolnshireAgriculturalSociety
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Karen Malpass at Lincolnshire Events Centre in Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
kmalpass@lincs-events.co.uk - 01522 585504
Maggie Taylor at Prima PR
maggie@primapr.co.uk – 01400 251557 / 0797 3767 602
Editor’s Note:
Lincolnshire Events Centre is a major national conferencing venue, home of the Lincolnshire Show and the groundbreaking EPIC project. Just outside the historic city of Lincoln, the Centre hosts events for 10 to 10,000 visitors on its 200 acre showground site and 3000 square metres of indoor exhibition and venue space.
Outdoor events include the flagship Lincolnshire Show, antiques fairs and horse trials, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. Under cover, there are exhibition halls and conferencing facilities, including the recently completed EPIC centre, the second largest purpose-designed showcase for environmental technologies in the UK, it enables event organisers to reduce, monitor and offset their carbon footprint.