When we arrived at the showground for the 141st Blakesley Show, the morning was cooler than it had been recently. Our large tent was already in place, allowing us to unpack our vehicles and get straight to work creating a welcoming stand for our customers and friends.Because of the long dry spell, barbeques were not permitted, so instead of our usual bacon baps we offered a continental breakfast of freshly baked croissants with strawberry conserve, accompanied by fresh coffee.
Blakesley Show always brings together the best of farming, rural life and the local community. With equestrian classes, vintage vehicles, countryside displays, shopping and family activities, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Throughout the morning, familiar faces and new visitors stopped by our stand, chatting about what they had seen so far and what they were looking forward to exploring next.
Our competition to win the contents of our “Whamper” attracted plenty of interest. The “Whamper” is a green wheelbarrow filled with delicious food and drink items, which will be awarded at the end of the show season. At Blakesley Show, however, the winner of our homemade hamper was Alison Courtenay, whose guess came closest to the number of grains in the Kilner jar filled with Northamptonshire wheat.
By lunchtime, the sun was at its strongest and the heat had really built up, so many people were glad to step into the shade of our tent. We welcomed them with a refreshing glass of Pimms and a Ploughman’s lunch featuring Stilton cheese and pork pies from Melton Mowbray.
In the afternoon, we served welcome cups of tea alongside homemade cake, giving our friends the chance to enjoy a short break before heading off to watch the day’s final activities or make one last purchase.
As we packed up at the end of the day, we reflected on our eighth year at the show. Many of the new faces we met eight years ago have since become firm friends and we look forward to seeing them again next year, along with the new friends we made in 2026.