Show's triumphal return

Organisers of the Heathfield Show were relieved and delighted this week that their event went off successfully on Saturday for the first time in three years.

Show secretary Mrs Debbie Siggs said: 'We are absolutely delighted. We couldn't have asked for more in the way of crowds coming through the gates and the weather was very, very kind to us.

'We are very relieved the show was able to go ahead and very, very thrilled at the support we had from local traders and the people in the south east who came along,' she said.

About 15,000 people visited the show at Little Tottingworth Farm, Broad Oak. The weather started out bright, then it briefly poured with rain during the morning, but the land dried out finishing off spongy rather than sticky. It was windy and cold but occasional bursts of sunshine warmed up the crowds.

Visitors thoroughly enjoyed their day and those who brought animals to the show were swamped with interest, but there were mixed reactions from some of the traders.

Mrs Josephine Lewis, of Hot Footed, said her shoe stall had been fully carpeted in the morning but when the rain lashed down she had to lift it quickly and re-make the stall without it.

'I think it's just not warm enough to make people spend their money. They just don't feel summery,' she said.

Mr Peter Johnson of Stonepit Nurseries, Henfield, said sales of plants had been poor during the morning but were picking up in the afternoon and he hoped to have done well by the end of the day. 'People often leave plants until just before they go home,' he said.

Queues

Mr Jack Straw's Country Store was well positioned on a route to a children's bouncy castle slide which had queues throughout the day. It was a landmark on the site that no child would miss and Mr Straw, from Evesham in Worcestershire, who had the added benefit of wind chimes clanking merrily at his store, said that while business wasn't brisk it was worth his while coming.

He has been coming to the shows for nine years and was pleased to be back this year after the break forced firstly by bad weather and last year by foot and mouth disease.

Remnants of restrictions imposed because of the disease hit the show again this year with the absence of cloven hoofed animals, cattle and sheep. The restrictions were lifted in time for a return to later shows like the South of England, but not in time to allow all the necessary work to be done at Heathfield by Saturday.

'We will definitely be able to go ahead with cattle and sheep next year and we hope to have llamas back again then too,' said Mrs Siggs.

Meanwhile visitors, who did miss the cows and sheep, said they were still enjoying their day out. Mrs Sam Horscroft, from Heathfield, was there with her son Matthew (3) and said he was 'absolutely enthralled' by all he was seeing.

'It's been the animals and the tractors that have fascinated him but there have been a lot of things at eye level for young children. It is great that the show is back after three years, it is a real family event and brings the community together.'

Mrs Sue Barden from Hailsham was there with her children Daniel (11) and Leah (16) and they too were enjoying their visit. The bouncy castle slide had attracted Daniel and the horses were of interest to them all, but there were plenty of other things to look at too, she said.