Volunteers who devoted almost 2,700 years of combined loyalty to the Royal Norfolk Show have been celebrated with the event's first long service awards for stewards.
The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA) held its annual Stewards' Evening at Easton and Otley College, near the showground.
It included the presentation of new awards, introduced this year to recognise the time, effort and dedication given by stewards in service of this significant date in the Norfolk calendar.
More than 80 individuals were honoured for 25 and 40 years of service by RNAA vice president the Marquess of Cholmondeley - totalling 2,668 years of volunteer time contributed.
They included Robert More, who was recognised for his contribution as he steps down from his role as show committee chairman, a title he had held since 2013, and as a steward of 42 years. Mr More was also identified as a key player in bringing about the long service awards for stewards.
Greg Smith, chief executive of the RNAA, said the 400 strong volunteer team was "the lifeblood of the Royal Norfolk Show" and congratulated the stewards on a "hugely successful" 2019.
Stewards assist guests and visitors at the Royal Norfolk Show, providing information and education across the showground and playing a vital part in the running of the event, including the livestock and equine sections, trade stands, sponsorship, education, logistics, horticulture, and art gallery.
The full list of award recipients, with the number of years served as of 2019, is: Alan Alston, 50; John Carrick, 51; Colin Clark, 59; Gordon Coe, 49; Simon Daniels, 40; Cyril Davies, 47; Philip Eagle, 41; Mike Gamble, 46; Ben Gaze, 50; Nigel Horner-Glister, 50; Stephen Howlett, 46; Roger Long, 47; Jonathan Molineux, 42; Robert More, 42; Peter Rout, 46; Stuart Sadler, 45; Christopher Self, 50; Russell Steggles, 40; David Sutton, 50+; Albert Aldred, 30; Henry Alston, 29; James Alston, 27; Stephen Askew, 33; Roland Axman, 25; Sir Nicholas Bacon OBE, 29; Nigel Bloom, 37; William Brigham, 35; Adam Case, 25; James Chapman, 31; David Chillingworth, 35; Michael Cooke, 36; Paul Corfield, 36; Stephen Cross, 26; Kirstin Cumming, 29; Robert Daines, 25; Felicity Daniels, 27; Mike Davies, 25; Philip De La Cour, 30; Nigel Dixon, 29; Paul Etheridge, 38; Paul Filby, 30; David Fisher, 32; Benjamin Gamble, 26; David Gaze, 31; John Gordon, 29; Nick Gowing, 28; Philip Green, 30; Sara Harrold, 25; David Hastings, 27; Elizabeth Hayes, 29; William Hill, 27; Richard Hirst, 26; Joan Hocking, 29; David Horsfall, 25; Bernard Jones, 34; Marion Jones, 30; Robert Kittle, 30; Luke Lockhart, 27; William Meen, 35; Arthur Mobbs, 30; David Morton, 28; Malcolm Napthen, 33; Martin Nash, 29; Julia Nix OBE, 25; Chris Nix, 30; Harvey Norman, 31; Sam Papworth, 26; Tim Papworth, 30; Andrew Pledger, 30; John Reader, 28; David Richardson OBE, 26; Rob Richardson, 36; Marian Russell, 25; David Sayer, 27; David Scott, 32; Anthony Stimpson, 39; Peter Tann, 34; Nicky Wallace, 26; John Waters, 33; Joe Wiley, 33; Jim Woodger, 36.
- Anyone interested in volunteering as a steward for the 2020 Royal Norfolk Show should visit the RNAA website.
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