OBITUARIES Conrad Underwood
The new Members’ Patio, overlooking the Newark Ring, was used for the first time with some success at the County Show and new chairs and tables were purchased for the Council Chamber and Sir Stuart Goodwin Pavilion. Finally, the internal grounds were verti-drained and mole-ploughed to decompact and aerate the soil to promote healthy grass growth.
New faces Mary Hopkins Show Manager Mary is reponsible for the Nottinghamshire County Show and Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show. Passionate about livestock and farming in general, her background is in farming and county shows. She spent 15 years in Norfolk, followed by two successful years as manager at the West Midlands Showground, host to the Shropshire County Show and Mid-Shropshire Vintage Show. “I aim to build on the successful shows left by Sally and her team, involving the Young Farmers more, increasing membership and building on the many strong relationships already in place,” she said. With two grown-up children, Mary enjoys walking, running, rowing and her black Labrador. Paul Sparks Sales & Marketing Manager Paul had provided marketing services to the Showground for several years. With a sales and marketing background in business to business publishing and exhibitions with Haymarket, EMAP, Media Week and others he went on to run his own marketing communications consultancy. A member of Newark Business Club, he was also a founding director of Newark Jazz Festival, building many contacts across the region. Married with three daughters, Paul moved from London to Collingham in 2000. His brief includes bringing more midweek B2B exhibitions and events to the Showground. Joey Hopkins Commis Chef Joey joined the Tastes team on a part time basis working in the Cedric Ford Pavilion in October 2009. Extremely keen to learn all aspects of catering, from small dinners to banquets for 500, he showed great potential and became a contracted employee in January, 2012. He is gaining valuable experience in all areas and has become an integral part of the team, catering for small events, helping to run Tastes bistro in the George Stephenson and Tastes mobile unit.
Farm manager to Mr John Samworth for many years, Conrad was a great supporter of the Nottinghamshire County Show, Flintham Show, Belvoir Hunt and other rural organisations. Well-connected across the East Midlands and further afield in the Heavy Horse world he was a respected Horse Ploughing judge. Conrad enjoyed everything the countryside had to offer; from its crafts, sports and skills, to British beef and Stilton cheese - even sourcing Melton Mowbray Pork Pies for the County Show each year. He had negotiated sites for Flintham Ploughing match and his loyalty was rewarded with Presidency of the Ploughing match, a privilege he never forgot. He helped our Society in many ways, from hedge-plashing to stewarding in the Commercial classes at the County Show. The Brydon family who kindly presented ‘The Four Shows Ploughing Trophy’ have asked that it be re-named the “Conrad Underwood Trophy” in his honour. Conrad died in December 2011. To Doris and all the family we extend our sincere sympathy.
Ray Barrett Ray was appointed as Operations Manager to the Showground in June 2009. His career had been in the events industry and he was well known for setting up car events for prestigious customers such as Porsche abroad. He settled in well and was an immediate asset to the team. Customers were soon praising his diplomacy and commercial ability. Sadly after only a few months of work, Ray contracted oesophageal cancer and underwent treatment involving a serious operation. He returned to work for a short while but, sadly, had a relapse. Ray retained his optimism to the last through two years of treatments. A keen small holder, Ray owned a pre-war Austin 7 Box Saloon and a Ferguson TE20 tractor as well as several Gloucester Old Spot pigs, poultry and sheep. His wife Karen is to present a trophy in his name at the 10th Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show. Ray died in December 2011 and we extend our deep condolences to Karen and his family.
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