Secretary retires from Kinross Show duties
Annual event has been in Mary’s hands since 2004
Final preparations are under way for this Saturday’s Kinross Show.
And for a long-serving secretary, this will be her last time at the helm.
As the committee and volunteers roll up their sleeves to prepare the showground at RSPB Loch Leven, Mary Morgan, is applying the finishing touches to her months of planning and organising ahead of this well loved Kinross-shire event.
It’s looking like the 187th year will be a bumper day and Mary, who is coordinating the event for the 13th time, is anticipating to seeing everything come together.
She is stepping down from the role at the AGM later in the year.
In 2004, having retired from a career in banking, Mary was looking for a new challenge and, as she had always enjoyed being part of the local show circuit through her work with Royal Bank of Scotland, she applied for the part-time position.
Since then, Mary has worked tirelessly to support the committee to develop and grow the show.
“It’s a gradual build up of work each month until the show,” said Mary.
“Making the applications for all the licences for livestock and gaining the authority to stage the event on the National Nature Reserve are the key parts that come before compiling the premium list and processing the entries.
“But I’ve developed my own guide that ensures it goes as smoothly as possible,” she added.
She said managing the layout was “a bit like a massive jigsaw puzzle” and she works closely with a couple of committee members to try to give each stand the best site for their organisation or business.
It’s certainly worth the attention to detail, as this year there will be a record 53 trade stands.
Similarly, in the livestock sections she liaises with the convenors to ensure that the 45 sections are completely prepared for the competitions.
“The planning all pays off when the judges come into the secretary’s tent having judged a good show of stock and sit down to lunch proud to have judged at Kinross Show,” she commented.
Mary recalls the move in 2012 from Kinross House to the new show field at RSPB Loch Leven as a challenging time.
However the transition has gone well and the free buses ensure that everyone can make the journey easily.
Being a dog-lover, Mary is delighted that the extra space has enabled the dog show to expand to attract more than 80 entries this year and she is also very pleased that the children’s education marquee is offering more and more opportunities for the younger generation to find out about farming and the countryside.
Mary’s retiral from her role will give her more time to devote to her other interests and Kinross Show will remain in her diary – albeit as more of a relaxing day from now on.
• Kinross Show’s opening times are 8.30am to 5.30pm, Saturday. Admission: Adult £10, children (under 16) free, senior citizen £7. Car parking £2, ringside parking £20, the show catalogue costs £3.
Retiring Kinross Show secretary Mary Morgan