Royal Bath and West Show was a huge success this year with brilliant weather, superb livestock, marvellous entertainment truly a great day out for all the family. The show proved to be successful for breeders, farmers, exhibitors in so many sections of the show.

In the beef cattle lines, in the British Blonde classes was the Whistley herd from West Harptree, taking all the honours in this section, they secured champion, reserve, best male, best female, best group of three and best of breed.

In the sheep section of the livestock classes, the Ryeland breed reserve champion was won by the Wear family from Compton Martin and Nempnett Thrubwell together with winning the group of three, the pair and the shearling ewe and ewe classes.

In the floral art section; Coral Gardiner from Tunley won the prize for best in show together with first prizes in the pedestal class, called Indian Summer, and the petite class, called Sugar and Spice.

In the huge section of horses - both breeding and ridden - there were very many breeds. Colin Horler from Radford near Timsbury had successes with his Shire, Radford Cilla. This two year old home bred filly won the filly class, the section championship and best shire. This is an exceptional filly having been shown last year and remained unbeaten as she has so far this showing season.

The art show is housed in a great building just off the main lawn. There is quite a detailed system whereby pictures are submitted and then a selection committee select the pictures and sculptures make it to the display. It has always been considered a huge achievement to be hung at the show. Also on display was a Christmas card, a competition winner, which this year is a cheerful robin. The only local entry to win a prize, very highly commended, was an oil ‘The Last Rose of Summer’ by Pamela Wilmot of Paulton.

There have been many changes at the Bath and West during the last year. One of those changes is in the chairman of the society. The retiring chairman, Robbie Drewett, of Bishop Sutton, has become the High Sheriff of Somerset - a role in which he was performing some official duties during the show. The role of High Sherriff requires him to dress in the formal and traditional dress.

The closing ceremony of the show was a magnificent display of vintage vehicles, steam engines, ancient agricultural machines and as they quietened an opera singer closed the show with the national anthem.

Rosie Sage