Newark to Newbury move for new general manager of Newbury show

Mary Hopkins (pictured) is to take over as general manager of the Newury & District Agricultural Society which stages this year’s Royal County of Berkshire Show on September 21 and 22.
Ms Hopkins, who takes up the post at the beginning of July, when she leaves her current role as Shows Manager with the Newark and Notts Agricultural Society, said she was looking forward to joining the team at Newbury and meeting its many volunteers:
“I am very impressed by all I have seen of both the society and of the show.
“The way in which it promotes agriculture and wider countryside and food issues is admirable, especially its work in education,” said Mary Hopkins.
She added: “I certainly come in with some new ideas for the show and my thinking cap is on for the future, but I need to take in a lot more information and meet the people who have built the show to what it is today before I venture any suggestions.”
Events she had managed at the Newark Showground include the Nottinghamshire County Show, after 15 years working in Norfolk, followed by two years as Manager at the West Midlands Showground.
Mother of a grown-up daughter and son, she enjoys walking her black Labrador in the countryside, while planning her move to Berkshire and house-hunting.
NDAS board chairman, Simon Carter, paid tribute to the staff and volunteer team who had filled the gap since the departure earlier in the year of the previous general manager, Becky Elvin, who left for a new role at the Royal Highland Show based in Edinburgh.
“It has been a challenging few months, but hard work and dedication has kept things moving for the 2013 show,” Mr Carter said.