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THE PEOPLE AND THE DISPLAYS

Great Harwood Show is an agricultural show, but it is so much more besides. Here we feature some of the people, organisations and charities who gave up their time to inform and educate as well as thoroughly entertain at this wonderful occasion. Of course we are not able to feature each and every one of them but what we have done here is to try and indicate the wide spectrum of what happened on the day.

POLICE DOGS DO THEIR STUFF

The Great Harwood Show is not just about farm animals. Lancashire Police came into the main arena and gave an exhibition involving police dogs of all abilities. They showed a dog in training that had not yet qualified with its handler. Naturally there were a few rough edges but you could see the basic training had kicked in and it wouldn’t be long before he earned his stripes.

The demonstration was humorous and entertaining as befitted the occasion but there is no doubt a real-life villain would not see the funny side if pursued by one of these tenacious police dogs. There was even a “villain” stealing a car and we were treated to a car chase in the arena.

After the demonstration I spoke with two of the team. Isobel Allen is a Police Cadet and during the demonstration the announcer was quick to point out that cadets are volunteers but none the less an integral part of the team. She was very helpful answering my questions as was Nathan Shaw, a PCSO in Accrington.

I was fascinated when the handler of one of the dogs played the part of the villain and he had to wait for the handler of the dog that grabbed him to get that dog off him. Nathan explained:

“The dogs are trained to form a bond with one handler and when in action, it is only the command of that officer they will listen to.”

A lot of time and training goes into police dogs and they are a wonderful asset for the police to have; long may they carry on doing what they do.

Peter Jones 2016

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ONLY FOALS AND HORSES STILL GOING STRONG

Only Foals and Horses officially became an animal sanctuary in 1991 when it moved its stables from Altham to a larger stables in Oswaldtwistle where it remains today. Like any charity they are always looking for volunteers and donations from people who appreciate what they do.

Without this charity, many abandoned animals would surely have died, so the work they do is vital if creatures abandoned or mistreated are to be given a second chance.

I spoke with some of their members at this show and they told me that they now have three charity shops in Burnley, Accrington and Oswaldtwistle. They said they are getting lots of support from the community at the moment and long may that continue. I also remembered that Sherrie Hewson went on a Who Wants to be a Millionaire Celebrity edition and won them thousands of pounds but that was a long time ago now.

At the moment the sanctuary houses two goats, two donkeys and 87 horses in total but there are new cases of abandonment and mistreating all the time so they want to help as many as they can and they can't do that without public support.

For more information please contact them at Redshell Lane, Off Haslingden Road, Oswaldtwistle BB5 3RW or by ringing 01254 239995

Peter Jones 2016