I have had a long association with the Caithness County Show
Recorded 3 years ago
About this recording
David Gunn shares his memories of his long association with the Caithness County Show.
He explains how his late father was secretary of the show for many years, so from 1955 David, along with his two brothers, spent two weeks of their school holidays helping at the show ground. One of his tasks was to put the numbers on the many sheep pens.
In 1958, he was given his first official job which was to take charge of the prize tickets for the sports events.
He became a steward at the show in 1965, starting with the sheep section, and after about ten years was made chief steward of the horses. This he continued until he was appointed President of the Caithness Agricultural Society in 1989. Although the Caithness County Show was due to take place in Thurso that year, it coincided with the Wick Quatercentenary, so the show was transferred from Thurso to Wick. The weather was good, and all went well until the marquee dance when the electricity supply failed.
The main attraction in the ring that year was a display by six Clydesdale horses pulling a wheeled cart called a Dray. This event had been arranged by the previous president, the late Morris Ronaldson.
“It looked very impressive, all the horses decorated in their show harness and cart polished to perfection.”
David also talks about his family’s involvement in exhibiting in the sheep and wool sections.
His wife Flora and daughter Lindsay showed their homebred Highland ponies for many years at the Caithness Show and won Supreme Horse in 2004.
David now lives in Nairn and was invited to judge the Champion of Champions at the Caithness County Show in 2023.
Contributors
Photos
