Aylsham Show organisers have proudly presented a total of £15,000 to 36 Norfolk charities and community groups.

After staging a successful comeback event at Blickling Park in August - the first for three years due to Covid cancellations - the Aylsham Agricultural Show Association (AASA) was able to donate surplus funds to good causes.

Retiring president Paul Hovesen said it was a "great honour," to oversee the annual Bank Holiday event, and paid tribute to the "generous support" of businesses, trade stands and sponsors, who had helped to ensure its success - along with the army of volunteers working tirelessly behind the scenes.

At the AASA's annual meeting, he told members and guests of his "immense pride" that the association could support so many voluntary, sporting and charitable organisations in the area.

Eastern Daily Press: Livestock competitors at the 2022 Aylsham ShowLivestock competitors at the 2022 Aylsham Show (Image: Chris Hill)

The meeting at Aylsham’s Town Hall also saw former head cattle steward Roger Long elected president for this summer's 75th anniversary show. “It is one of the proudest moments of my life to be invited to be president,” he said.

Administrator David Hitcham said the 2022 show made a modest surplus of about £22,000 despite soaring costs of staging the event.

As a result, it had been possible to distribute £15,000, including some larger donations to several groups which had helped with the smooth running of the show.

 

Aylsham Show charity donations 2023

£2,500 - Norfolk Walsham Rugby Club.

£1,000 - Aylsham Flower Club (Norfolk First Responders).

£800 - Aylsham Boxing Club, Aylsham Rotary Club (Father Christmas Sleigh) and East Anglia's Children Hospices.

£500 - Aylsham Football Club, Eves Hill Veg Co, Norfolk Hearts Trust, Norfolk Reading project and Priscilla Bacon Hospice Care.

£300 - 3rd Aylsham Guides and Norwich & District Riding for the Disabled.

£250 - Holt Rugby Football Club, Anyone Can Run, Aylsham Band, Aylsham Care Trust, Aylsham Community Gym, Aylsham Community Trust (Families), Aylsham Heritage Centre, Aylsham Older People Association, Aylsham Recreation Ground (Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and King Charles III Coronation tree-planting), Aylsham Roman Project, Aylsham St Giles Cricket Club, Aylsham Table Tennis Club, Aylsham Tennis Club, Aylsham Youth Club, Cawston Community Choir, Emmanuel Church, Fishing for Schools, Food & Farming Discovery Trust, Friends of Erpingham School, Norfolk & Waveney Mind, Norfolk Churches Trust, North Norfolk Vikings Swimming club, North Walsham Funding Food Bank (Sainsbury’s), Worstead & District Riding for the Disabled.