The County Show returned on Saturday 14 May after a two year break, and enjoyed a great day for all with plenty of sunshine and some 10,000 visitors. In addition, everyone was treated mid-afternoon to an amazing triple ‘Fly Past’ of one of the few remaining WW2 Lancaster Bombers.
(Photo by kind permission of Newark Showground)
As well as all the normal attractions, the County Show also hosted the Lord Lieutenant’s ‘Jubilee Celebration Event’ in support of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The showground’s vast George Stephenson Exhibition Hall gave way to promote and show a wide variety of Nottinghamshire activities in the arts, sciences and the business world.
As one of the Lord Lieutenant’s Deputies, W Bro. Geoffrey Bond agreed to host a stand to showcase the two engineering apprenticeship schemes that he originated, namely: ‘The Midlands Agricultural Engineering Trainee & Apprenticeship Education Schemes’ and the ‘Midlands Masonic Education Partnership’ scheme (MMEP) currently working with the Nottingham University Academy of Science and Technology (NUAST).
The MMEP stand was managed during the day by W Bro Barry Woodhead, Provincial Charity Steward and MMEP Project Director, and supported during the morning by Bro. Andy Edwards, Vice-Principal NUAST, and by Ross Little, head of Sixth form NUAST, in the afternoon.
Barry commented that the day, although long, had been extremely worthwhile and the joint stand had attracted a surprising amount of interest – not least people’s very positive reaction to seeing Nottinghamshire Masons being directly involved in the community.
The Lord Lieutenant’s team are now planning to showcase the Jubilee Celebration Event around the County during the rest of 2022 to allow as many people as possible to share in the ‘Excellence of Nottinghamshire’ in this special year.
(image above and below courtesy of Newark Showground)
