Tockwith Show

Mike Tham, 2011 President

I often wonder why about 3 years ago I was approached and asked if I would be President of the 2011 show. I don’t like to ask too many questions as I might get an answer I don’t expect.

I’ve been associated with the show for about 15 years so I am really a youngster! Unlike most people involved with staging the show who have excellent DIY skills or are closely associated with one section of the show I am very much a generalist. I do whatever wants doing! For a number of years I acted as ‘gofer’ for the Secretary on show day. I really enjoyed doing that although after 10 hours of ‘go for this’ and ‘fetch that’ I was exhausted. You will usually find me on the day after the show wandering around with a black sack picking up litter. A simple but essential task and one I find quite relaxing after the hurly burly of show day. I’ve done all sorts of things – even acted as a judge on one occasion when the booked judge failed to turn up.

I’ve just recently taken over the job of being Advertising and Sponsorship Secretary so if you know of anybody that might consider advertising at the show or in the show programme or might sponsor a class or section please let me know!

So what do I like most about being involved with Tockwith Show? The answer is simple – it’s the people that each year make the show happen. They are a great bunch of folk who give up a lot of time to the show particularly in the week before the Saturday on which the show is held. They go about their tasks, often under pressure, but still have time for a laugh and a joke. Very occasionally tempers boil over but there is always somebody there to help sort out the problem. The people of Tockwith Show are very friendly and I have made a number of friends through the show.

This year in my role of President I am invited to the Show Committee meetings which are held every 2 months at Green Hammerton. Turning out on a dark and cold January evening is never going to be enjoyable but the enthusiasm of the members of the committee is such that you cannot help but come away from the meetings with a feeling that although the show is some months away it is going to be the best ever.

If only we could say the same about the weather!!

I hope to see you at the 66th Tockwith Show on the 6th August this year.

Mike Tham