Food show sausages upset Lady Mcalpine

A WEALTHY businessman and his wife have threatened to quit as patrons of an Oxfordshire food show after spotting sausages from the Midlands on sale.

Sir William and Lady Mcalpine said they were “embarrassed” that not enough local produce was for sale at the Henley Show.

Lady Mcalpine said the couple would consider their positions unless more was included and promoted.

“We are now patrons of the show and are seriously considering standing down because we are embarrassed by the lack of local produce in the fast food stands,” she wrote in a letter published in the local newspaper.

“There is local produce in the food tent, but the sausages on offer outside this year proudly announced that they were from Shropshire. None of the other food outlets was local. For a local agricultural show this is nonsense.”

Sir William is a former director of Sir Robert Mcalpine, the construction company founded by his great-grandfather.

Lady Mcalpine, who lives in nearby Fawley Hill, Bucks, added: “When I organise an event at Fawley Hill, or the Traditional Boat Festival, I politely decline advances from food outlets that are not local or are not prepared to use local produce.

“We need more awareness of the amazing food suppliers we have in this area. Ten years ago, when my husband was president of the Henley Show, we protested that the only local food to be had on the showground was Paul Clerehugh if you were eating in the member’s enclosure or the Culden Faw venison burgers.

“Despite, as one committee members puts it ‘banging on’ at every available opportunity, nothing has changed.”

The annual September show, which features ploughing matches, sheepdog trials, cattle and poultry judging, is attended by thousands every year. The number of visitors has increased by 45 per cent in the last five years.

Paul Clerehugh, a chef, owns the Crooked Billet, in nearby Stoke Row, which hosted Kate Winslet’s wedding reception in 1998, and was a consultant on Jamie Oliver’s school dinners project.