Thanks for the memories

It must be around 27 years since I first joined Council and never expected to gain high office, I was content to offer my comments when I had an input. During this time, I enjoyed the social element of the meetings at Stoneleigh but maybe not the drive home afterwards. It was a shock to be invited to stand as Vice President and with the support of my family I accepted. I made history by being the first President to be appointed through Zoom and more important to me, one of the few residents of County Durham, if not the first. Due to COVID, my first year was almost a non-event with all meetings being virtual. The second year, however, has more than made up for it. Margaret and I enjoyed our trip to Devon for the AGM in 2021 and then the President’s Dinner, which had to be in County Durham was a huge success (at least I think so) and then to be invited to Windsor at the beginning of the Conference Tour and to meet Princess Anne was fantastic. It was while we were in Windsor that we met Malcolm Douglas from Australia who told us he lived in Stanhope although he pronounced it Stan-hope as many people do. We corrected his pronunciation as Stanhope is a small town just down the valley from home and is pronounced ‘Stanup’. Then there was the Great Yorkshire Show. Again, to meet Princess Anne and witness the fantastic turnout of Dairy Shorthorns. A huge thank you to all exhibitors and handlers in the parade and the Princess did us proud as Patron when she spoke to all the handlers in the parade. To witness my Granddaughter Georgia present the flowers from The Society to Her Royal Highness made me a very proud Granddad. Judging day came and the huge classes were a sight to be seen. Congratulations to all prize winners and especially to the Collins family on their championship line up. The speakers at the conference were very informative and the Banquet at night I enjoyed very much. I did wonder if our visitors from overseas could understand the local dialect. Thank you to the Moscrop family for hosting this year’s AGM and Young Members Day and thanks to Ros, Claire, Graham and Rachael for organising it. Both days were thoroughly enjoyed. A lot of memories have been created. Dennis Craig