IN April Gloucester celebrates its 100th show.
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Through floods, fire and two World Wars, the show has survived as the event everyone in Gloucester looks forward to each and every year.
From the first, in 1908, to the most recent, the show has relied heavily on the support of a dedicated band of volunteers.
The 100th Gloucester Show will be just as much about celebrating the efforts and achievements of this dedicated bunch as the place that Gloucester was and has become.
“When I was a kid the Gloucester Show was the biggest event of the whole year,” show society president James Hooke said.
“I still see it as that. It’s a great big social get-together. There are not many occasions where the whole town comes together.”
The lead up to the centenary has been less than smooth-sailing for the Gloucester AH and P Society, with the departure of president Tim Norrie and secretary Ann Plumridge.
Ms Plumridge has been a stalwart of the society for many years and her departure because of ill health has left a void that the society is still struggling to fill.
“Ann did a great job and replacing her will be difficult,” Mr Hooke said.
“We’ll be assessing candidates for the secretary’s role at the end of the month. I think it’s too much for one person to deal with and I’d like to split it at least for the 100th show.”
Mr Hooke said the 100th show would remain true to the tradition of all previous Gloucester shows.
“A lot of outside people have told me one of the things that they really enjoy about our show is that it doesn’t try to be overly spectacular,” he said.
“It’s still that older-style show.”
He said stewards at this year’s show would wear period costume as a tribute to the past 100 years of shows.
A commemorative exhibition of pictures, brochures and prize cards from the past 100 shows will also feature.