A brief history of the West Show
The Story so far
In the closing days of 1912 Mr. Abraham J. Simon of Les Sages
convened a steering group to consider the feasibility of
establishing a cottage garden society in the western parishes.
Only twelve days later - on Tuesday the 7th January, 1913,
the foundation meeting of The West United Agricultural and
Horticultural Society was held.
The first President of the
Society was the Reverend H. Walter Brock, who like his father
and grandfather before him, was highly regarded as Rector of
St Pierre du Bois. Mr. T. Mansell Simon was elected first
vice-president. The rector was, in practice, a "figure-head"
president and it was Mr. Mansell Simon who really led the
Society during its early years. Mr. A. J. Robin was elected
treasurer and the first secretary was Mr. Henry W. Le Ray.
Five committee members were elected from each parish as
follows: St Saviour's - T. M. Vidamour, M. A. Paint, N. Falla,
W. de Gruchy, J. L. Le Page. St Pierre du Bois - A. J. Simon,
A. E. Brouard, H B Ogier, T Corbin jnr, E. J. Le Messurier.
Torteval - J. H. Mahy, W. J. Sarre, J. Brehaut, Jas A. Langlois,
N. R. Robilliard.
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| The first president |
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The first committee |
Subscriptions were fixed at 1 /3d (6p) for
adults and 6d (2.05p) for children. In the first year the
Society had 650 members of which 100 were ladies and 72 were
juniors.
On the 24th and 25th September 1913, the first show
was held at Les Islets Arsenal. The minutes record that "the
show was a huge success from every point of view; on both days
we were favoured with real summer weather, which contributed
in no small measure in drawing the large attendance and giving
financial results beyond our most sanguine expectations. The
entries were so numerous, totalling over 800, that the Arsenal
was found inadequate. There were 129 entries in the cattle
classes."
The success of the first year however, was not to be
repeated in 1914. Owing to the outbreak of the Great War, no
show was held that year. From 1915 shows were again held at
Les Islets Arsenal although in 1917 and 1918 the venue was
changed to Les Caches, St Saviour's.
In July 1921 King George V,
accompanied by Queen Mary and the Princess Mary, visited the
showground where they inspected some of the Society's prize
winning cattle. During that year the Island suffered a serious
drought and entries were affected. The committee was proud to
have staged an event called 'Musical chairs with bicycles'.
Apparently it was very popular - the first time such an event
had been held in Guernsey.
The minutes of 1923 state that the
weather on the show days had been the most inclement since the
founding of the Society. It would seem that worse was to come
for the following year the minutes record that "there was
continuous torrential rain, with hail; everywhere being thick
with mud". In 1925, perhaps as an omen against the weather
suffered in the two previous years, the committee invited the
Lord Bishop of Winchester to attend the show. The previous year
there were in excess of 2,600 exhibits, a record which has only recently been surpassed.
Fur and feather exhibits were introduced in 1927.
Times have not changed in some ways for that year many
complaints were received about the sanitary arrangements.
However the committee resolved not to pursue the matter
because "the States wanted an extra five pounds to improve the
conveniences"! (It occurs to the author that similar thoughts
may occur in 2047 when our successors look back in the 1987
minutes book!)
In 1929 the minutes record that severe storms
had occurred that year and considerable damage had been caused
to greenhouses.
The Society's financial position in 1932 was considered so
serious that a fete was held to raise funds. A re-enactment
of La Grande Charrue took place. By 1934 the balance in hand
had fallen to £25.10.6d. Bananas must have been popular in the
early '30s because a decision was taken to restrict the number
of banana stalls to two and to charge I/- per foot. (The
minutes do not state if the charge related to the size of the
site or to the size of the fruit!)
Towards the end of the '30s a photograph of the Committee
appeared in the catalogues. Various competitions were held
to guess the total height, weight etc. of those photographed.
A further innovation in 1938 was the "Steam Galloping Horses"
which appears to have been very exciting.
No show was held in 1939 because of the unsettled world
situation, war being declared some two weeks before the show
was due to be held. During the German Occupation no committee
meetings, or other activities, were held and when the war ended
in 1945 it was decided that no show could be held until 1946.
The first post war show, which was held in fields, near to the
old St Peter's School, suffered bad weather on both days. The
show was brought forward one month from the third week in
September to the third week in August. Crown and Anchor tables
were allowed for the first time. The committee decided that
Guernsey-French or English could be used at future meetings.
In 1948 the show was held at Les Paysans and for the first
time tents were hired from Messrs Yeo Bros. Paul Limited, at a
cost of £63 plus carriage. The first auction of produce was
held, the auctioneer being Mr. 0. J. Langlois. Committee
membership was increased from 15 to 24.
An interesting variety of entertainment was provided in 1949
and 1950. Acts included 'Johnny Walsh - a trick motorcyclist',
'The Balmoral Kiltie Lassies Band', 'Harry Sloan and Barrie
stilt walkers' and 'Chasewater Charlie - a comedian'.
Owing to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in Guernsey
no show was held in 1952. However the following year, the
fortieth anniversary of the Society, matters had returned to
normal and a spectacular cavalcade re-enacting "The Review
of the Fleet" was staged. A firework display was also held.
A further change of venue for the four years from 1954 to
1957 took place when the show moved to L'Eree Aerodrome, then
owned by Butlins Limited. The show returned to Les Paysans
in 1958. That year Miss Marjorie Ozanne was granted permission
to sell windmills in aid of her bird hospital. The Society's
financial position was again cause for concern and doubts were
expressed as to whether further shows should be held. Happily
the committee did decide to continue and the Society gradually
returned to a stronger position.
On two occasions in the 1960s sheep dog displays were held;
the first time it was necessary to import sheep from Sark for
the performances. In the late 1960s and 1970s the Society's
"It's a knockout" competitions were very popular and in 1974
Embassy sponsored an inter-parochial competition at the show.
In 1969 the Society received a legacy of £1,000 from
Mr. 0. J. N. Langlois. The following year harness classes were
held for the first time.
The outlawing of Crown and Anchor in
1971 was opposed by the Society but two years later the
committee decided not to support efforts to persuade the States
to allow the game to be played at the annual shows. However
a further change of minds took place in 1978 when the Society
backed a move to legalise the game. Crown and Anchor subsequently
returned to the showground in 1983.
The Society received a further financial boost in 1974 when it
won a £1,000 Premium Savings Bond. From 1973 until 1983 the States
Tourist Board made grants to the Society.
There was a severe drought in 1976 which resulted in reduced
entries in the horticultural classes. Sea water was used for the
games. A pageant entitled 'Smugglers of the West' was performed.
In 1977 special classes were added to the schedule to mark Her
Majesty's Silver Jubilee. No glasshouse competitions were held
that year because of the plant disease bacterial canker.
A display of stationary engines and other working machinery was
introduced in 1984 and since then has remained a popular
attraction each year.
The last 'move' occurred in 1985 when the show returned to L'Eree
Aerodrome, then owned by Mr. C. R. W. Best. This excellent site
provides the show with an area in excess of 80 vergees.
In 1986 the Society became affiliated to the Royal Horticultural
Society. The Royal Guernsey Agricultural and Horticultural Society
revived its parochial display competitions in 1986 and the West
has been honoured to win the trophy many times since.
After several applications to the Island Development Committee,
permission was finally granted in 1987 for caravans to be occupied
on the show ground and we were thus able to welcome the largest
funfair ever seen on the Island.
Our membership reached the highest level in 1987 - a total of
2,565 members. At the close of 1987, the members agreed that the
Society should be re-constituted as a Body Corporate and in March
1988, the States of Deliberation approved a Requete directing the
preparation of the necessary legislation.
The last founder member of the Society, Mr J. E. Le Lacheur,
died in 1989.
By 1990 radio contact between members manning the gates and the
committee tent was established and it is particularly welcome now that
the Show comprises such a large area for 'runners' to cover!
The 50th anniversary of Liberation in 1995 was marked by the Society
entering a float in the Liberation Day cavalcade.
In 1996 the minute books were lodged with the States Archive
Service for safe keeping but they can be viewed on application via
an officer of the Society.
The following year was the 50th anniversary of Yeo Bros. supplying
the tentage and they donated a trophy in commemoration.
In the course of many years a number of traditions and customs of
times past have been re-enacted in pageants giving an insight into
the more leisurely days of yesteryear and it is hoped that they
have assisted in preserving a valuable part
of our heritage. Throughout the years since the foundation of the
Society its members have sought above all things to maintain its
principal object - to promote and encourage agricultural and
horticultural interests in the parishes of St Saviour's, St Pierre
du Bois and Torteval.
The next big mile stone for the society is of course the centenary
in 2013. The committee already have their thinking caps
on to dream up ways of making the centenary year a bigger and
better spectacle than the annual Show already is.
