Issue 308 – More more more… all set for best ever Frome Cheese Show

The word ‘more’ cropped up with almost monotonous regularity at Frome Show’s organising committee’s last meeting ahead of the event this month.

There were, members were told, more cattle and more classes for them on the schedule than ever before. There were more sheep entries than ever before, more cheeses with more prize money, more trade stands, more attractions, more for visitors to see, do and buy, more mobility scooters for less able visitors, more free buses from and to Frome, more interest from exhibitors and more commercial sponsors.
And with the closing date for several of the events competitions still ahead of them, committee members left the meeting confident that after the show, which takes place on Saturday 11th September at the West Woodland Showground, the word ‘more’ will crop up again and again when the final report on Frome’s most popular day out is written.
Show secretary is Brenda Scott. She told Frome Times that interest in the show was running at an unprecedented level with space in some of the show’s marquees, halls and pavilions sold out months ago, adding to the very encouraging boost in the numbers of entries right across the board.
Brenda stressed, “The show will have all of the features which have helped to make it a family outing ‘must’ but it’s far from being just a repeat of last year and the year before.
“Top of the list of new attractions is the three acre Countryside Pursuit Area which has been created close to the main show area and which features a newly-dug lake and its fast growing wildlife habitats which are being allowed to grow and develop naturally to become a major natural resource for the town.”
At the lakeside will be a coracle maker who will be joined by an expert fly fisher and gun dog handlers, with show visitors not only able to enjoy demonstrations of their particular skills but also to see a wide range of traditional and, often these days, rarely practised artisan crafts. These include making walking sticks, crooks and hay rakes, willow weaving, fly tying, wood turning, weaving and dyeing, seat weaving and, using more modern skills, sculpting with a chain saw.
Show visitors will also be able to try their hand at fly casting, archery and laser clay shooting.
A newly-built roadway will provide an easy and natural way for visitors to the show to gain access to the site and to the lake, and it’s along this roadway that those rural crafts will be shown off.
Back on the main showground, there’s a packed programme of entertainment on the Village Green, the showground’s arena area, where there’s an action-packed programme throughout the day for everyone ranging from clowns to hawks and, a new act for 2010, the UK FMX Freestyle Show which features a heart stopping back flip on a motor bike!
There’s the Dog Agility Ring where visitors can enjoy spectacular displays from ‘Trick’n’Treat’ as well as a number of competitions and demonstrations. There’s the fairground area with traditional and 21st century rides for everyone, and there’s the Animal Nursery, a real family favourite with lots of animals and insects to see.
The Main Ring, which will be thronged with visitors at the end of the day to see the Grand Parade of prize winning cattle, sheep and goats, will be the day-long magnet for equestrian enthusiasts who will be able to watch as horses and riders go through their show jumping paces and enjoy the leisurely but equally competitive carriage driving classes.
In the Cheese Pavilion the number of cheeses and dairy products on show will be higher than ever at around 850, underlining Frome Show’s role as the second most important cheese festival in the country. The Champion Cheese, chosen by the judges the day before, will be on prominent display, while in the Pavilion’s Rangemaster kitchen, celebrity chef Martin Blunos will be showing off some of the skills which have won him two Michelin stars.
The Fine Food and Local Food Halls, both immensely popular with visitors will both be offering mouth-watering tastes of many different types of food, with the emphasis in the Local Food Hall on food produced within 25 miles of Frome.
With record numbers of entries in the Handicraft, Homecraft and Horticultural marquee visitors will be able to enjoy the usual spectacular display of exhibits ranging from knitted garments to homemade cakes, flowers to miniature gardens while, with more than 50 trade stands selling products ranging from jewellery to children’s games, the Rural Crafts Hall will be a shopper’s dream.
Brenda said, “All in all it’s looking very good for Frome Show 2010. And don’t forget, you can get the benefit of significant discounts if you book your admission ticket in advance.
“I would also recommend anyone who wants to hire a mobility scooter to do that as soon as possible. Demand was very high last year and though we have more scooters this year, we’re anticipating they will be very popular again.”
Tickets for the 2010 show, which takes place on Saturday 11th September, are now available from the Tourist Information Centres at Frome, Westbury and Melksham, the show’s Fromefield office, online at www.netaticket.com and by phone via the credit card hotline 01749 813899.
Mobility scooters can be booked via the Out’N’About link on www.pooleshopmobility.org.uk or by phoning 01202 670450, Monday to Friday 11.00am – 3.00pm.
Parking at the West Woodlands Showground is free but for those without a car or who prefer to leave their car at home, there’s a regular bus service – again it’s free – from the old Fromefield Showground, Cork Street and Badcox to and from the show, and because of the demand at last year’s show the number and size of the buses have been increased.
For more information about ‘everything Frome Show’ go to www.fromecheeseshow.co.uk.