Behind the Scenes at the Great Yorkshire Show

In July members enjoyed a behind-the-scenes visit to the Great Yorkshire Show, arranged by the Yorkshire
Agricultural Society and hosted by Charles Mills. Charles, the Show’s director for the last seven years,
started with a short introduction followed by a tour. It did not take long to appreciate just what a big deal the Great Yorkshire Show is.
When not otherwise engaged, Charles runs an arable and sheep farm at Appleton Roebuck and was possibly the only one of the party oblivious to the heat on a meltingly hot Sunday afternoon. A charming and extremely knowledgeable host, his fund of amusing anecdotes brought the whole experience to life with highlights almost too numerous to mention. The group enjoyed a visit to the President’s Balcony, to the sheds where the largest bulls sheltered, and outside where other cattle were being hosed down against the heat. Then it was off to the parlour where £175,000’s worth of kit not only milked a cow with eye-watering efficiency but also tested it for ailments such as mastitis. One or two members were even allowed to sit on the cushion laid out for use by Princess Anne later in the week!
The visit was concluded with a life-saving drink, a piece of cake and a lot of jollity before departing with huge
thanks to new-found friends at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.