Highland Show still on agenda

Against the backdrop of an increasing number of cancellations in the summer’s agricultural events calendar, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland yesterday moved to explain their continued hopes of staging this year’s farming’s flagship event – the Highland Show.

Mark Currie, the organisation’s director of operations said that everything possible was being done to plan for a safe event – including continuing to work with the Scottish Government at all levels to help inform and develop guidance that would allow the show to take place.

Commenting on recent announcements from many other large scale shows and events, Currie said that such decisions would have been taken within the context of their own local situation:

“We are fully aware and appreciate that, with the ever-evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a chance that the Royal Highland Show may not be able to go ahead, however at this moment in time we remain positive and thank you all for your continued support.”

He said if the society was to cease planning now - but later received positive news from Scottish Government - there would be no chance of the show going ahead:

But he stressed that the safety of members, livestock exhibitors, directors, staff, volunteers and visitors was their number one priority.

Currie added that last week the opening of the showground’s new Members Pavilion as an NHS vaccination centre, along with the encouraging news of the successful vaccine rollout had helped the society remain optimistic about delivering the “best Show possible” in 2021.