SHOW COMMITTEE AGM: The AGM of the Ilmington Show Committee was held in the Red Lion, and was attended by all the committee members and one member of the public. The chairman, Alan Wright, thanked the committee for all their hard work. He also thanked all the international and local business sponsors, and Shipston Rotary Club who organised the car parking. He said that the sports clubs did not support the show enough, and because of this there was once again not enough food on sale. One of the clubs was supposed to be selling burgers, but they did not turn up and did not let the committee know that they would not be coming. The chairman said that this would all be sorted out for next year's show. He also said that the show this year was good, with more entertainment than ever. However, he felt that the committee needed some new blood.

Rupert Wyles congratulated the Horticultural Society on the successful flower show, and it was pointed out that a lot of new adults and children had been encouraged to enter.

The treasurer, Mike Tremellen, said that the gate money was slightly down on last year, and there were fewer stalls, although this year there was a bouncy castle and a new attraction, the climbing wall, which was popular. The raffle made slightly less profit than last year. More money was spent on events than before, but despite this there was still a healthy balance of over £6,000 in the bank. John Wilbur, who organised the raffle with the school PTA, said that the sales of tickets in the Howard Arms, the Red Lion and the shop were good, but that many of the parents had not returned their tickets. It was pointed out that in previous years the committee had been given about 20 books each to sell, but that this had not happened this year.

The committee was then re-elected en bloc, with the exception of the secretary, Hugh Beecham, who wished to stand down. However, he agreed to continue for the time being until a new secretary was appointed. He was thanked for all his hard work over the years by the president, Peter Gardner, who also thanked the chairman, Alan Wright, for all his efforts.

It was necessary to keep enough funds in the bank to cover two bad years, and with this in mind £100 donations would be given to Shipston Home Carers, the Ellen Badger Hospital and local village charities.