PROBUS CLUB

It is not often that one is given such an insight into a national event as important as the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, as indeed was the case when members of the Narberth and District Probus Club sat down at their November lunch to listen to Mr. Bill Ratcliffe, of the Royal Agricultural Society.

Bill was trained at Harper Adams Agricultural College, being first appointed to Naas in North Staffordshire, before coming to Wales in 1956 and, after working in many parts of the province, he concluded his career at Aberystwyth with the Advisory Service.

For many years, Bill Ratcliffe has been heavily involved and committed to the Royal Welsh, of which he is both council member and director and it was on this topic that he decided to speak.

Having an intimate knowledge of the tremendous organisation required to organise the Royal Welsh and its attendant shows in spring and winter, Bill Ratcliffe was wonderfully placed to astound the members.

He described how the Royal Welsh had to fight against opposition from the United Counties and the media in the shape of the Cambrian News before the idea could finally be put into practice. Moving around in its nascent years between North, South and Mid Wales, from its formation in 1904 and its title Royal in 1922, it went through many vicissitudes. At Aberystwyth in 1957 the rain was incessant and the show was dubbed the Royal Squelch.

With considerable courage the council of directors decided that a permanent site was necessary and opted for Builth Wells which cost £35,000 initially. 1963 saw the first show and there were six years of losses before stabilisation, the organisers saving the day with cash input.

The Royal Welsh is now the premier agricultural show in the UK, with 55,000 visitors per day. The site requires military-like organisation and the area, the size of a small town, requires sewerage, plumbing, electrics and policing.

The RW embraces all aspects of agriculture, from animals to environment, buildings to crafts and the education of young farmers, with financial support for attendance at agricultural colleges.

All the committee members give their services free and there are 42 of them, there are 12 directors and their attendant stewards; £94,000 is required to maintain the site and repair roads and rings and damage caused by vandalism.

Average turnover is over four million, but only 2.4 million is profit, which is used to pay for the enormous running costs.

The RW is non-political, but responds to Defra and the Welsh Assembly in its ethos.

Summing up, Bill Ratcliffe said that the great success of the Royal Welsh was due to many factors - the devotion of the council and directors, the wonderful support from the participants and not least from the public at large.

In offering a vote of thanks on behalf of the club, Hubert Phillips, of Waunfawr, described how as a small boy it had taken almost as long to reach the United Counties show as it does today to the Royal Welsh, and how much agriculture in Wales owes to the efforts of the organisers for placing the industry so firmly on the map.

Hubert, a retired farmer, thanked Bill for a fascinating talk so ably presented.

The new president thanked Bill Ratcliffe for giving time to talk to the club and reminded members that the club's Christmas lunch would be held on December 18, 12 noon for 12.30 pm.

INNER WHEEL

The Inner Wheel Club of Narberth and Whitland held their December meeting on the first day of the month. This took the form of their Christmas dinner, which was held at the Nantyffin Motel, Llandissilio.

President Pearl Holding welcomed everyone present and congratulated member Marjorie Harries who would be celebrating her 80th birthday this month. She thanked treasurer Helen John for laying the poppy wreath at Narberth on remembrance Sunday. Four members had attended the District meeting at Aberavon and also Carmarthen and Haverfordwest coffee morning.

The Milford Haven charter dinner would be held on January 30, Saundersfoot club would be holding an international evening on January 12 and a fish and chip supper at the Mermaid Restaurant later in the year. A number of members would be attending these functions. The annual conference next year would be held in Ireland and the following year in Bournemouth.

President Pearl informed members that arrangements were in hand to visit the Lyric Theatre at Carmarthen to see South Pacific. The dates for the carol singing at the local residential homes to assist the Rotary Club included Sunnybank, Narberth - December 8, Bloomfield Day Centre - December 12 and Waungron Home - December 16.

A delicious Christmas dinner was then served by the staff of the motel. Finally, president Pearl wished everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

No objections

Narberth Town Council's planning committee have offered no objections to an application to build a bungalow on land adjacent to 15 Springfield Park.