We are pleased to welcome Giles Simpson as our new Shows Chairman.
Giles is a Farmer and Agronomist for Pearce Seeds LLP and has supported the Show for many years as a volunteer and more recently as Show Vice Chairman for three years. Giles brings to the Show a wealth of knowledge on Agriculture and the Countryside and has already gotten to work on ensuring the prominents of Agriculture remains at the heart of the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show with a new layout allowing us to move the Grand Parade of Livestock sponsored by Woolley & Wallis into the Gritchie Brewing Co Main Ring for the first time in over 15 years.
Having volunteered at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show for a long time prior to becoming Show Vice Chairman for three years, Giles is a familiar face to the Show and assisted the prior Show Chairman and Office Team through preparations and budgeting for the Show in 2021 when met with the difficulties of COVID-19 protocols.
Giles has spent many hours since the Autumn working closely with the Show Office and Board of Management on the brand new Spring Countryside Show which opens its gates on the 23rd & 24th April. The aim and priority is the promotion of Agriculture, Horticulture, Rural Life and the Countryside.
When asked about his new role Giles said “I first got involved by parking Livestock Lorries at 5am and to have progressed to Show Chairman is an honour. I hope to continue to see the Show grow and expand as the regions true Agricultural Show, putting farming first”.
All of the team here look forward to working closer with Giles and opening the gates on our first Show of 2022, The Spring Countryside Show in 9 days time.
As we welcome Giles Simpson to the position of Show Chairman, we also say a big Thank you to Richard Curtis who has led the Show since 2016, having dealt with a wet Show, dry Show, a global pandemic then a two day Show. We cannot thank Richard enough and is very much not goodbye with him continuing as a Board Member and becoming Joint Deputy President with Wife Helen Curtis.
We also welcome Dairy Farmer and long-term Show volunteer in particularly more lately organising the Fun, Food & Farming Area, Allan Miller to the role of Vice Show Chairman.
We look forward to a prosperous future with all our new position holders.