Family Firm Celebrates 125th Show
A family business now in its fourth generation will be celebrating a special anniversary this year with its 125th appearance at the show.
Gill’s Leeming Bar was founded in Danby by current proprietor Michael Blanchard’s great-grandfather, John Henry Gill, moving to Leeming Bar when he took over Mattison’s foundry there in 1912.
Mr Blanchard believes the family’s continued attendance at the show makes Gill’s the longest-standing trade exhibitor at the event. The trade stand has occupied the same spot on the showground ever since he can remember first attending as a primary school pupil.
Gill’s Leeming Bar has seen changes over the years, from its beginnings manufacturing agricultural machinery, through many years as a large tractor dealership to its current business selling lawn care equipment, ATVs and quad bikes and, importantly for its continued success during the pandemic, bicycles.
Michael’s grandfather, who is now 105, has shared many memories both about the business and the show over the years with the family but Michael’s own favourite memory was having to ring his father, Alan, to tell him to get himself to the stand because the Duke of Edinburgh was to visit it. Michael, who was working on the stand that day, remembers the Duke being very interested in where different pieces of machinery were manufactured, and the stand appeared on television once again as part of the coverage of the Duke’s death in April.
This year’s stand will feature Yamaha ATVs and Logic accessories and Michael is looking forward to welcoming customers old and new. He said: “We are a friendly family firm and this is the first time we have been able to get out a meet people in two years so it will be brilliant to have the opportunity.”
Last year’s Show was cancelled due to Coronavirus restrictions. Instead, it went virtual over three days last July, attracting viewers from more than 40 different countries.
The 162nd Great Yorkshire Show will take place over four days for the first time in its history, from Tuesday 13th to Friday 16th July, 8am to 5pm.
Tickets are sold in advance only. Please go to: greatyorkshireshow.co.uk/ticket-information/
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EDITOR’S NOTES
- The Great Yorkshire Show is England’s premier agricultural event, organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS), a registered charity supporting rural Yorkshire.
- YAS supports and promotes the farming industry through health care, business, education and scientific research.
- The Society is supported by its family of businesses including Fodder, Yorkshire Event Centre, Pavilions of Harrogate and the Harrogate Caravan Park as well as events Great Yorkshire Show, Countryside Live and Springtime Live.
- Businesses and events held at the Great Yorkshire Showground in 2019 contributed £73.7 million to the economy.
CONTACT
Jo Francisco
PR Manager
Direct Line: 01423 546215 | Mobile: 07954 007414
Email: jof@yas.co.uk
Sara Lamper
Great Yorkshire Show Press Officer
PR@yas.co.uk
Mobile: 07759 795990
The team from Gill’s Leeming Bar in the 1950s, with John Henry Gill centre and Michael’s grandfather, Sid Blanchard, on his right.
