Organisers see visitors to Eccleshall Show double

A VILLAGE show celebrated its 65th year with a record-breaking turnout.

Eccleshall Show welcomed 10,000 visitors on Saturday – nearly double the number who attended last year.

Families had to be directed to an emergency overflow car park as long queues formed at the entrance to the Lower Sugnall site.

The event, held on The Parks, was spread across an area twice the size of previous years, following a huge interest from exhibitors and stallholders .

Show manager Peter Titley, of Eccleshall, lauded the event as "the best ever".

He said: "It was fantastic to celebrate our 65th year with a new record.

"We doubled the area the show is held on which is a sign of just how many people turned up.

"The show started in 1947 and the event has changed so much in that time.

"Country shows have got to change to make sure they can attract a wide variety of people and over the years we have tried to include entertainment which will appeal to more than just a rural audience.

"We hope events like this help bridge the gap between town and country to help make the shows as successful as they were in their heyday."

Families spent the day enjoying dog demonstrations, pet agility races, dance performances and various vegetable competitions.

But for mother and daughter Shan and Emily Jones the show was the perfect opportunity to launch their new business venture.

Fifty-eight-year-old Shan and Emily, aged 28, have set up Clouded By Nostalgia from the comfort of their Eccleshall home.

The pair have been busy creating handbags and brooches from their kitchen.

Shan said: "It was great to be able to show off what we do in our home village. It's a lovely place and is often overlooked.

"We do everything ourselves, the kitchen is full of paint and sewing equipment."

Emily added: "I am a dressmaker so I was inspired to create something a bit different and it was great to launch at the show."

David Seels, of Hill Chorlton, near Loggerheads, brought along a pack of hunting hounds to the show.

The 31-year-old said: "My dogs have been coming here ever since the show first started and they are always a big hit with the children.

"We take them out for a hunt in the morning and then bring them to the show for a rest. Everyone enjoys looking at them."

Helen Parton, 1st Eccleshall Scout Group leader, was lending a hand on the day.

The 41-year-old, who lives in the village, said: "We have a team of explorer scouts who try to do their bit and help out.

"They camp out on a field near to the showground for the weekend to make sure they are prepared.

"This year we have had people helping out on the car park and serving food.

"They also put on demonstrations for visitors to see exactly what scouting is all about.

"The group uses very traditional skills as we teach them to try to keep scouting the way it should be."

Eccleshall Show is organised by a team of volunteers and donates its profits to various charities.