Island Life August/September 2018

Interview
“Through
determination and
dedication, not to
mention the hard
work of everyone
on the committee,
the Show was
totally revived.”
it came to rest on the Nine Acres
field in Newport, where it was able
to purchase the ground securing
a regular flat area with plenty
of room for the Show to grow.
In more recent times, too, the
annual event has had its ups
and downs. There was a period
when it fell into the doldrums
and was nearly ended. Then Amy
Willcock together with Graham
Biss came on board and, through
determination and dedication,
not to mention the hard work of
everyone on the committee, the
Show was totally revived. Graham
has been the chairman of the
Show Committee for the last five
years and with their collective
energy and enthusiasm, the
Show has gone from strength to
strength. It is now one of the best
one-day shows in the south, and
admired and supported both by
Islanders and mainland breeders.
It was almost inevitable after
selling the Seaview Hotel and
retiring, that my husband Nick and
I should end up on the committee
running the Members’ Area, and
in particular organising the lunch
for over 200 people, along with
a bar and light refreshments
served all day. All the delicious
food and catering is supplied by
David Rogers and his excellent
team at All About Catering. The
huge and beautiful marquee in
the Members’ Area, along with
hundreds of tables and chairs, is
supplied free of charge, by Coast
and Country. Peter Alexander
and his team from Thompson’s
Nursery produce the spectacular
floral displays, again free of
charge. Nick and I
find that pulling
together
the whole
Members’
Area,
with this
generous
and
professional
team, is
great fun.
For the last two
years we have
been able to supply
a further tented area for the
bar and light refreshments, thanks
to the sponsorship provided by
Ben Rouse of Rouse Ltd and
James Attrill of BCM. We needed
this extra space because while
many of the members like to enjoy
the formal lunch, some members
are exhibiting or taking part in
events and so are not always able
to get away. Also, we wanted to
encourage younger families to
become members to ensure the
future of the Show. So now there
is a less formal area where people
can dine, inside or out, in a more
relaxed atmosphere but still
enjoying the spectacle.
The Members’
Area is very much
the heart of
the Show. Set
right in the
middle of
the ground
between
the main
ring and the
show jumping
arena, it has
spectacular views.
Nick and I really
enjoy attending the monthly
meetings in the Hare and Hounds
with all the other volunteers on
the show committee. It is fun,
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