Quotations from P G Wodehouse are copyright of, and reprinted by permission of, the Trustees of the Wodehouse Estate © 2012 The P G Wodehouse Society (UK)

The Royal County of Berkshire Show (The Newbury Show), 21st September 2008

A number of society members came to the final and beautiful sunny day of the 2008 Newbury Show on Sunday 21st September 2008. The show is held conveniently near Junction 13 of the M4 and boasts many attractions including most importantly the agricultural show itself, but also an extensive tented shopping village (with everything from crafts to cars, food and wine, clothing, gardening, country pursuits etc) and a traditional funfair. It has an important reputation boasting a central arena and much more, a rival to shows such as The Royal Show itself and the Royal Bath and West.

Of course the major reason for the society day at the Newbury Show was the selection of the Berkshire Pig Breeders Club Champion of Champions. At other shows a champion of Berkshire Pigs is selected and then at the Newbury Show, because Berkshire is the home of this breed, the most important prize of all is awarded to the Berkshire pig judged to be their Champion of Champions.

This year the award went to Fairoaks Peter Lad II, a six year old raised by Chris Impey of Porth. It is a magnificent example of this rare breed.

Fairoaks Peter Lad II, the 2008 Berkshire Champion of Champions (Photograph by Tony Ring)

The award was presented to Chris Impey by the chairman of our society Hilary Bruce seen here on the left (Photograph by Tony Ring)

An added highlight was that the society remembrancer Norman Murphy donned a white coat and armed with a board and walking stick 'showed' a berkshire pig to the audience. He was greeted with much applause and laughter as he stroked the pig with his walking stick and the pig rolled over in delight!

Norman Murphy shows how to turn a large pig into a 'big softie' (photograph by Tony Ring)

Many of you will know that the P G Wodehouse Society (UK) sponsors the Berkshire Pig breed and its annual Champion of Champions prize. A famous fictional hero of P G Wodehouse's Emsworth novels is the Berkshire sow The Empress of Blandings. Our society and the Berkshire Pig Breeders Society are both proud of this association. You can find out more from the Berkshire Pig Breeders Society website about this rare breed and also see an article 'Embrace the Emsworth Paradox' by clicking on the link at the base of the first page of their website here.

Norman Murphy in complete control!