Popular agricultural show cancelled for second year running due to pandemic

The Great Harwood Agricultural Society has confirmed its annual agricultural show scheduled for Spring Bank Holiday Monday, May 31 this year has been called off.

The members, who work voluntarily and tirelessly every year to put on this event, say they have agonised long and hard over the past months as to whether it would be possible to run the

show this year.

Under normal circumstances, preparations for the event start way back in October the previous year and run right up to the show itself at the end of May.

Stephen Horrocks, chairman Great Harwood Agricultural Society Ltd, said: "In the current situation we lack any degree of certainty that the government or local councils would permit the

event to take place, or that the public themselves would feel safe in attending.

"The show involves the investment of many man hours and many thousands of pounds, much of which is not recoverable unless a successful show takes place.

"It has therefore been decided that it would be irresponsible to risk the loss of outlay of £25,000 plus, when due to circumstances beyond our control the show could be cancelled at short

notice.

"We are therefore going to start preparations early for the 2022 Annual Great Harwood Agricultural Show and look forward to a successful year then, when this terrible situation hopefully

will be over and life has returned to normal."