Perth Show's Neil Forbes hands over the reins

dailyrecord.co.uk:

One of the best known characters in the Scottish agricultural show scene is stepping down as secretary of Perth Show after 18 years.

Neil Forbes, who has administered the two-day agricultural showcase in Perth since 2004, retired from the post with Perthshire Agricultural Society (PAS) at this week’s AGM.

Following a spell of ill health, Neil (76) from Auchterarder believes the time is right to hand over the reins after becoming the show’s longest-serving secretary.“I have loved every minute of it,” he said. “I’ve seen the annual event through its highs and lows and built up a wealth of happy, stressful, emotional and hilarious memories.” Neil’s lifelong association with Perth Show began when he was a small boy but his earliest memory was as a seven-year-old helping out a family friend by leading their prize-winning Clydesdale round the show ground in the Grand Parade. “The excitement of doing that was just amazing,” he recalled. “Then as a teenager I helped stockmen at a local farm halter train the calves for shows.“Perth Show has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.”The son of a farm manager, Neil opted to go into the veterinary pharmaceutical industry which saw him work within the agricultural community throughout Scotland.In 1990, Neil was asked to join the board of PAS and moved from director to Junior Vice Chairman in 1999 having embraced many different roles - from gate duty to stewarding - during the annual Show.“I was keen to do every job and learn all about the running of the Show as I moved through to become Chairman in 2001,” he said.Sadly, for Neil and the farming community, 2001 brought devastating Foot and Mouth to the country and, while Perth Show went ahead, it had to do so without any