Well, the 2012 show turned out to be one to forget.
The rain came down, it was cold and just when it looked as though it might brighten up in the afternoon, it poured down harder! Obviously, the weather seriously affected the gate and great credit is due to those who did turn up. Entries were down and less than half the trade stands set up. In fact the income generators failed to produce, yet the expenditure remains the same and we won’t know the full extent of the damage until the financial report is presented at the Annual General Meeting in November. We are fortunate in having a long list of sponsors and subscribers whose contributions help considerably to cushion the blow and we thank them for their generosity.

We thank also the committee and helpers who stuck it out to make sure show programme was completed.

One crumb of comfort was an e-mail I received from a Gainsborough lady, who as a competitor attended the show for the first time. Despite the weather, she enjoyed the show very much and thought it was one of the best organised, best laid out village shows she had been to – and well signposted too. She was also impressed with how the ground held up in the adverse conditions. So we had at least one satisfied customer!

We now begin preparations for next year’s event and let’s hope things are much brighter in 2013.

John England

Show Secretary