While Margot Capp and Chris Dooley have clocked up a combined 100 years of service to the Gresford Agricultural Society, they have no plans to slow down any time soon.
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Margot was a Scone girl and 26-years-old when she married Bruce Capp and moved to Gresford.
“Mrs Lindeman was the president of the show’s ladies’ auxiliary and I started out by helping her,” Mrs Capps said.
“ I went on the committee in 1955 and continued to work with her doing morning teas for the stewards – and I’ve been doing the same ever since.
“We also did the official afternoon tea for the visitors.”
Margot’s husband Bruce was show president from 1958 to 1976 while Margot was president of the ladies auxiliary from 1971 to 1998.
But not only was she kept busy with her auxiliary duties, she also found time to make jams, biscuits and cakes to enter in the show.
“I love Gresford Show and besides, it what’s you do when you get involved in something.
“We still do morning and afternoon teas for the stewards and since pavilion judging began on Thursday, it’s done over three days.
“But I only do it for two days – Saturday is my day off to enjoy the show.”
While Margot is now 86 she hasn’t let age slow her down and said she will be back in 2016 “if I’m still here”.
“What else do I do, sit and home and do nothing,” she said.
“And besides, I got most successful exhibitor in the jams and jellies, first prize for my pumpkin scones and four prizes in the knitting section.
“I’ve got to keep my hand in.”
Chris Dooley became involved because his parents Paddy and Madge were both on the committee.
“I started riding at the show when I was about five or six and then it got to the stage when someone asked me to go on the committee,” he said.
“Back in those days there used to be a queue to get on the committee, quite often you had to wait for someone to die before a vacancy became available.
“I was only about 18 or 19 and I’ve been there ever since.
“I honestly think it is the best show going around.
“It’s not a carnival, it’s an agricultural show which hasn’t lost its tradition.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a split in the committee . . . not like it happens in other areas.
“They all try to pull together here.
“We’ve had some very good leaders [show presidents] over the years and everyone has a job to do.
“There’s no fanfare or accolades, you just get on and do it.”
Chris’ three sons also rode at the show until they went off to college and university.
“I used to ride from home leading two ponies for the kids. We would stay at the ground and go home on Sunday.
“I still rode up to 10 years ago and I’ve even won an open campdraft here.
“Back in the olden days, there was no entertainment as there is now – flag racing was the feature event of the afternoon.
“And we used to have a show ball on the Friday night.
“I believe Gresford Show will go on forever.
“We are starting to get a few more young ones coming on so I think it will be in very safe hands.”
