Royal Horse Artillery Kent County Show - July 17, 1998 © P.Blanche 1998

THE KENT COUNTY SHOW 1998

For the first time this year the Royal Horse Artillery (my Grandfather's old regiment) appeared at The County Show and performed their famous musical ride using the huge WWI gun carriages. Judging from the numbers of people gathered around the ring in which they performed this ride, their visit was certainly appreciated.

Banshee - July 17, 1998 © P.Blanche 1998

As in previous years, there was great interest in the "monsters of yesteryear", the Traction Engines and other antique farm tractors and equipment. The picture on the left is of Banshee, a 1910 Engine, owned by David Birch and operated by his Father, Les (who, just to add a bit of genealogy, happens to be my Father's cousin! This also means that David is our cousin and Les is also my cousin but it gets rather complicated!!).
Below, you can see people watching with interest as the great engines leave their parking spots to move sedately into the show ring for their morning performance.

Traction Engines gather to enter the show-ring - July 17, 1998 © P.Blanche 1998

Stilt walking - July 17, 1998 © P.Blanche 1998

As usual there were many other attractions with a special agricultural theme at this years show. Here, a demonstration of the old art of hop stringing is in progress by a gentleman using stilts, which were in wide use before other mechanical means of doing this elevated job were available.