Aylesbury's Bucks County Show cancelled for second consecutive year due to pandemic

Aylesbury s historic annual Bucks County Show event has been cancelled for a second consecutive year as a result of the pandemic.

The annual one-day agricultural show was first established way back in 1859. In recent years it has been held in Weedon Park - just past Watermead and Buckingham Park - usually on the last Thursday of August.

Last year's show was cancelled in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic with bans on large gatherings in place at the time.

This year, though, restrictions are set to be lifted by June 21st as part of Boris Johnson's 'irreversible' roadmap out lockdown. And all adults are on course to be vaccinated by the target date of July 31st.

Despite the show being scheduled for August 26th - over two months after restrictions are due to have been lifted and a month after all adults are scheduled to have been given their jabs, Bucks County Show organisers have said cancelling the 2021 event was the 'prudent' thing to do.

In a statement on the Bucks County Show website, Bucks County Agricultural Show Management Committee chairman Steve Alexander said 'it is with much regret and sadness' that this year's event has been cancelled.

"We have continued to closely monitor the Coronavirus pandemic over the past months and whilst the ongoing vaccination programme is progressing well and should be commended, it has nevertheless become increasingly evident that it would not be prudent to hold the Bucks County Show this year," Mr Alexander said.

"This has been a very difficult decision to make, however, as our pre-planning for the 2021 event would now be starting to reach key deadlines for confirming major contractors and the committee have felt that no other option than to make this decision now and focus our efforts on the 2022 show.

"Sadly, the health and safety, operational and financial risk would simply be too great for us to run this year. Our priority therefore has to be to safeguard the viability of the much loved event for future years.

"Ultimately, the safety and wellbeing of our visitors, exhibitors, traders, staff and contractors is always our primary concern, combined with the effect to the local area, towns, parishes and residents.

"We offer our sincere apologies to all involved and I can assure you that we at the Bucks County Show are equally as disheartened and disappointed that for a second consecutive year there will be no show. However, not running the show again this year is the right and responsible thing to do on all counts.

"We can reassure everyone that all our efforts will now turn to putting on a fabulous show in 2022, the dates of which will be confirmed later in the year.

"We would like to take this opportunity of personally thanking you all for your continued support of the Bucks County Show during these very difficult times, we can assure you that it is very much appreciated."