Mike Harris has "had a ball" as head steward at the Suffolk Show.

He is a familiar face to many horse-lovers as the bowler-hatted head of an efficiently-run 35-strong team of stewards which ensures that a vast number of light horse competitions run - pretty much - without a hitch.

Now, after 10 shows in charge, he is handing over the reins to his deputy, James Nunn, a farmer based at Stowupland, near Stowmarket.

East Anglian Daily Times:

Running the show's light horse events - which this year had just under 900 entries and about 260 classes over eight rings - is no mean feat.

"I said I would do 10 shows - looking back on it I have had a ball. It's exhausting, exhilarating, scary, frightening but the best thing about it is my team of stewards - 35 of them - who are like a stewarding family. They are a bunch of friends."

Now aged 66, he worked for energy company EDF for 40 years at Sizewell B as an engineer before taking early retirement 10 years ago at the age of 57.

He and wife Claire have a six-acre smallholding with two horses at Grundisburgh Corner, near Otley.

He started stewarding at the show in 2001/02. He had ridden and competed himself over the years and in 2009 became Martin Kelleway's deputy in the light horse rings.

When Martin stood down in 2011, show director David Nunn - James' father - invited Mike to take over. During his first year in 2012, the second day of the show was cancelled due to a hurricane - making it a highly unusual introduction to the role.

Next year Mike will become James' deputy as part of the handover. After that, he plans to step back completely and hopes to help out elsewhere at the show.

"I feel like I'm coming out at the top," he said. "It's time for a younger steward to come through with their ideas. I would like Jimmy to make it his own now." 

The stewards have a good sense of what they are doing, he said, and Sophie King - who is in charge of the equine and livestock admin this year - has done "a stunning job" after taking on the role this year.

"The stewards often say to me: 'I have done so-and-so is that OK? Ninety-nine of the time it's perfect," he said.

This year was "busy, busy, busy" - after last year's show which was focused on recovery from Covid.

"My job is to turn 12 months of preparation into an actual event. We plan next year's 18 months in advance," he explained.

They want to maintain high standards and seek out the best judges from all over the country and even overseas. These don't return for five years and come from outside the region. The grounds are kept in beautiful condition to attract the best.

"It's a complex matrix and it takes weeks and weeks of planning to get it right. We are not perfect - we don't always get it right."

But when it does go a bit wrong his philosophy is "don't beat yourself up about it" and carry on.

During the pandemic, Mike learnt to play the piano -he's now on grade 3 - and is also in a local male voice choir - so he won't be short of activities. But he will be sad to go.

"I have loved every moment and I will be very sad to step away but feel it's time to give youth a chance and bring some innovation into it," he said.