Final Great Yorkshire For Show Director
The Great Yorkshire Show 2024 will be the final one for current Director Charles Mills as he comes to the end of his tenure.
Charles is set to step down after the next Great Yorkshire Show which will run from Tuesday July 9 to Friday July 12.
This will be his ninth show and the hunt is now on for a new Show Director.
Charles said: “When I was a young boy in short corduroy trousers sitting in the Grandstand, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get the honour of one day becoming the Show Director of the Great Yorkshire Show. It is a wonderful organisation and getting the opportunity to meet and work with so many dedicated people will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Charles was Show Director during one of the most challenging Shows which was organised as the UK came through Covid in 2021.
“We were one of the only agricultural shows to go ahead that year and it was such a pleasure to host King Charles III and Queen Camilla who supported us at that Show and spent a whole day meeting exhibitors, stewards and public,” said Charles.
“I have also thoroughly enjoyed hosting members of the Royal family including Princess Anne who visited twice during my tenure and is very highly respected among the farming community. The job of Show Director has been a wonderful experience and one that I will never forget.”
Since taking over the role in 2016, Charles has been part of the team behind changing the structure of the Great Yorkshire Show which moved from three days to four days since Covid in 2021. Tickets are now sold in advance only with visitor numbers capped at 140,000 equating to 35,000 people a day, to ensure a comfortable experience for visitors.
Charles looks forward to spending more time with wife Jill and family and supporting son James in running the family business of hosting weddings at their farm in Appleton Roebuck.
Allister Nixon, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society which organises the Great Yorkshire Show, said: “Charles has been a fantastic ambassador for the Great Yorkshire Show and we can’t thank him enough for his amazing contribution over the years and for his passion, commitment and leadership.”
The search is now on for a new Show Director and a full job description is available for this rare and exciting opportunity. Applicants should apply directly to TriciaM@yas.co.uk by the 31st October with a covering letter and CV.
ENDS
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 and Springtime Live.
• Businesses and events held at the Great Yorkshire Showground in 2019 contributed £73.7 million to the economy.
CONTACT
Jo Francisco
YAS PR Manager
Mobile: 07954 007414
Email: jof@yas.co.uk
Ben Barnett
YAS PR Officer
Direct Line: 01423 546016
Email: benb@yas.co.uk
