County show makes summer debut (From The Oxford Times)

County show makes summer debut

7:00am Saturday 31st July 2010 in

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OXFORDSHIRE’S county show is getting a major makeover today – taking place at the height of summer and at the weekend for the first time in its 123-year history.

Thousands of people are expected to travel to Thame for the Oxfordshire County and Thame Show.

Organisers hope that staging the show on a Saturday and the warmer weather will encourage more families to attend.

Martin Hector, the chairman of the Oxfordshire Agricultural Association, which organises the event, hopes between 10,000 and 20,000 people will attend.

He said: “So many people come to the show every year because we offer good quality, good value and a good day out.

“It’s the greatest agricultural show in England.”

Mr Hector said the aim of the changes was to make the show more family-friendly.

He added: “It’s an all-round family show this year. In addition to the traditional agricultural elements, like the cattle and the sheep, we’re making a special effort to attract families.

“We have a special children’s area and a human circus with tight-rope walking and juggling.”

He added: “We used to hold the show on a Thursday in September but fathers and mothers had to take time off work. We’re also hoping it will be warmer weather this time.”

He said the main attraction would be an appearance by the Portsmouth Navy Cadets’ Field Gun Display Team.

He added: “We also have sheep dancing, a Royal British Legion band and show jumping.”

Visitors will be able to see the usual livestock, sheepdog and falconry displays as well as visit craft and trade stalls.

Mr Hector said “massive preparations” had been made to handle the large amount of traffic coming to the town.

Signs will direct traffic to the showground from major roads and a shuttle bus will run from the town centre to the showground He said: “Parking is on one site, and is very well organised as always. We have used the same system for years and there’s no charge for parking – it should be very straightforward.

“There might be a short, short queue on the road but it will not be much. We will also have a security presence and first-aiders on site.”

Thame’s mayor Adam Buckland said: “The show is a good thing for us. It brings a lot of people to the town and puts Thame on the map.

“But because it’s on a showground outside the town, it doesn’t impact on the town centre.”

Thames Valley Police spokesman Victoria Bartlett said: “We will be on hand to assist but traffic management is the responsibility of the event organisers. We will have Pcsos and neighbourhood teams there.”

The show, off the A4129 Kingsey Road, starts at 8am and runs until 6pm.

• For full details of today’s event, see thameshow.co.uk