Janet honoured to be president
It’s a very special year for the “friendly show, as it’s celebrating its 150th anniversary on Saturday, August 10, which fills Janet with pride.
“I am very honoured to be president, but it’s also very daunting because it’s a huge responsibility with it being the 150thanniversary,” she said. “I am really looking forward to the day.
“Generations of families have supported the show and I think that is a big plus for Llanfyllin. The only times there hasn’t been a show was during the two World Wars and during Foot and Mouth Disease. That’s a very impressive record of bringing the community together.
“Having attended a lot of the show committee meetings this year, I have been so impressed by all the hard work, which is all done voluntarily, to organise the show.”
This summer has marked the end of Janet’s 42-year teaching career in Birmingham, where she taught children with special educational needs. In her spare time, she also taught Welsh language classes for beginners in the city.
Throughout her career, she has kept coming home to Parc, Llanfyllin, which was built by her grandparents in the 1950s. In recent years, her working week has reduced to two days and she has spent most of her time in Llanfyllin with her partner, John. In retirement, she plans to get involved in the community activities.
Her childhood was spent in Llanbrynmair, Llanfair Caereinion and Llanfyllin, as her father, Idwal, was a policeman.
She has attended Llanfyllin Show since childhood and says it has always been a highlight of the year. “The show is a big part of the yearly cycle when the local community comes together and old friends get to meet up,” she said.
“I have always enjoyed the show and my children come every year, so the cycle goes on. This year, we have grandchildren coming and they will be looking to enter the open classes for children.”
Janet is not the first member of her family to become president, as her cousin, Gwynn Jackson-Jones, held the post in 2008.
She is holding her President’s Lunch in a marquee at Bodfach Park on Sunday, July 28, when entertainment will be provided by pupils from Llanfyllin High School.
Janet has also helped to collate donated material for the show’s 150th anniversary display. She and former show chairman, Derwenna Davies, recently spent a “fascinating” afternoon researching the show’s history in Newtown Library’s archives.
The show is held at Bodfach Park by kind permission of the Bodfach Trust and Janet. Star attraction is the Broke FMX Stunt Display Team which will give two electrifying displays of freestyle motocross. The thrill of seeing motorbike riders jumping 35 feet in the air pulling acrobatic stunts over gaps approaching 100 feet is certain to entertain spectators.
Another highlight is the sheep shearing competition, which brings together some of the best sheep shearers from across Wales.
New this year is circus skills, while old favourites include Porthywaen Silver Band, a Village Green, a vintage machinery display, a fun fair, children’s activities, a donkey derby and a good selection of trade stands.
Following cases of equine flu across Wales and the UK, owners wishing to enter their horses in the show must have had them vaccinated in time.
There are also classes for sheep, horticulture, floral art, cookery and craft, sheep shearing and sheepdog trials, but there will be no goats this year. Spectators are encouraged to take along their dogs to enter in a dog show and terrier racing.
The show schedule and entry forms are available to download online from http://www.llanfyllinshow.co.uk/ . Entries close on Thursday, August 1 when officials will be available at the Institute, Llanfyllin from 2pm to 6pm to receive them.
Picture: Llanfyllin Show president Janet Jones overlooking the showground at Bodfach Park.
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