Bishop set to become president of 2024 Suffolk Show

Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Martin Seeley - who became a member of the House of Lords in 2022 - is set to take on the prestigious honorary role just before his likely retirement from the bishopric. He was officially installed as a Suffolk bishop in 2015.

"The very first thing I did was come to the Suffolk Show and that was my immersion into Suffolk," he said. "For me it's a thrill and an honour in what will probably be my last year before I'm forced to retire."

He admitted that it was only through living in the county that he had been introduced to a way of life and an industry that he has "thoroughly enjoyed".

"I have never really done anything that one might call agriculture - except living in this beautiful county," he said. But added: "I have worked hard to learn as much as I can about farming in this county and support where I possibly I can."

Suffolk Agricultural Association (SAA) voted him in as president-elect - to follow on from Stephen Fletcher, who is this year's president - at its annual general meeting (AGM) at Trinity Park, Ipswich, on Tuesday (February 28).

It's not the first time the SAA has broken with tradition and elected a president outside of the farming sector. In 2015, then editor of the East Anglian Daily Times Terry Hunt carried out the role.

Land agent Mr Fletcher owns a farm at Charsfield, near Woodbridge, and works for Landbridge chartered surveyors at Sproughton. He said he was "very humbled" to have been chosen for the job this year. "I'm in no doubt about the enormity of the work done by everyone in this association - it's staggering," he added.

David Barker, last year's president, was awarded the rare accolade as he was made an honorary life president in recognition of his services to the organisation. He said it had been "a pleasure" to work closely with the show's top team during the year. "I have had the time of my life," he told members.

Farmers reflected on a huge morale-booster last year when show numbers so exceeded expectations that the emergency parking fields were filled to the brim.

"How delighted we were to be able to get back after two years of no show to hold and stage our beloved county show," said chairman Bill Baker. "There was a massive appetite to come back."

After shutdowns and disappointments it made a triumphant return, he said. "We have had our fair share of challenges over the last three years," he admitted. But he was "hugely proud" of how the association had dealt with them.

"I would like to pay tribute to the tenacity which has got us through quite a tough period," he said. "A huge number of people have given up their time willingly and freely for the betterment of this association."

He and others paid tribute to outgoing show director Bruce Kerr for his "faith, patience and perserverance" in bringing about last year's event and said his stamp on it was "huge" in terms of his effort, hard work and time.

"He's a natural leader," he said.

"The association owes you a huge amount of thanks," he added. "You are and have been a superstar."

Mr Kerr in turn praised the staff and volunteers who faced "significant challenges - all of which we overcame with both sanity and sense of humour retained".

A £1m investment in washing and toilet facilities on the showground had been very well received, they heard. 

Around 3,500 children had a "fantastic time" at the School Farm and Country Fair last year - which meant the charity's educational remit was still being fulfilled, the meeting was told.

But that was against a backdrop of tough economic times. While the charity's trading arm, Trinity Park Events Ltd, was bouncing back, it took a hit from the Omicron Covid virus during the vital Christmas trading period in 2021/22 leading to a £16k loss in 2022.

However, the pandemic and harsh economic climate has left its mark. The headcount of SAA employees has dropped from a pre-pandemic 25 to 15 permanent staff this year.

Honorary treasurer Simon Tucker said the charity's investments had taken a balance sheet hit - dropping from gains of £335k in 2019 to an on-paper loss of £383k in 2022.

Trading losses had also been notched up in the 2021/22 year, he said. Overall, there was an operating loss of £320k in the year. Overall, the organisation was down about £400k compared to pre-pandemic 2019.

The good news was that the market had started to turn - although they were cautious about how that might look in the next six months - and there were signs it was starting to move upwards, he said.

"This year we are marching back towards financial health. It's going to be a difficult year to achieve that in 2023," he said.

John Taylor, this year's show director, said this year's event would major on the role of farming, with farming-themed exhibitions greeting visitors as they entered and exited the showground. They were also very conscious of the cost of living and had held back ticket price increases in a bid to encourage families to attend.

"Suffolk Show preparations are going well and we are certainly more forward this year than we were last year," he said.