Nostalgia

Descendents of Ingram Show founder turn out for centenary

Posted by The Journal on Sep 17, 09 11:17 AM in Nostalgia

A popular Northumberland show enjoyed a special link to the past when it celebrated 100 years of fun and games.

Descendants of the founder of the Ingram Show came from across the country and gathered in the tiny village to hand out prizes and help the community commemorate the centenary.

Descendents of the Ingram Show founder Reverend Canon Roland Allgood

Organisers tracked down members of Reverend Canon Roland Allgood's family from across Britain. The oldest is 98 and even his great great grandchildren aged just 19 months were on hand to see how the show has grown from its modest roots to welcoming almost 2,000 visitors.

His granddaughter Philida Cross, 66, who now lives in Leicestershire, grew up in Embleton Hall and said: "It was brilliant day. I got very emotional at the end when I made a little speech. It's a village we love and it was family, but I held the tears.

"It was brilliant growing up there. I spent most of my childhood around the Ingram Valley and the show was a large part of that."

Great grandson James Church, 41, from Wiltshire, often travelled up to Northumberland as a boy to see family, but has not been to the show for more than 20 years.

He said: "It's touching really, and the show probably hasn't changed a lot. They still have the games and sporting events.

"It was very thoughtful of them to organise it in that way."

Show secretary Sarah Wilson has written a book on the area's past and looked into the history of the Ingram Show. She therefore thought it would be a wonderful way to celebrate the centenary by bringing the founder's family together.

She said: "It was a really memorable occasion and it was a nice trip back for them.

"It's a real connection back to the past - it was the obvious thing to do, to have the family up. Ingram Show isn't spoilt - we're not into lots of stalls and
stands."

The Reverend Canon Allgood set up a parish tea and sports day in 1909. Originally people from outside the parish were not allowed to win any prizes .

From that the Ingram Show developed and has handicrafts and a horticulture section, as well as the traditional fell race which started in 1923.

At the weekend his descendants handed out prizes, and also enjoyed looking at a display on the history of the show, telling the story of their ancestor and the origins of the sports day.

Pictured: Descendents of the Ingram Show founder Reverend Canon Roland Allgood: Nephew Colonel Michael Bell, 98, from Hexham; Veronica Allgood, wife of cousin Lance Allgood; Malcolm Cross; show secretary Sarah Wilson; great grandson James Church, 41, holding great great granddaughter Rosie Church, 19 months; Sophy Grindell's boyfriend Keith; granddaughter Philida Cross, 66, from Leicestershire; great granddaughter Sophy Grindell, 29, holding great great grandson Sam Church, two; and grandson Nigel Church, 69.

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