President Dai Jones MBE, FRAgS, Llanilar

Since the Royal Welsh Show moved to its present permanent site at Llanelwedd it seems to have gone from strength to strength. Many would claim and rightly so, that this success is to a large measure due to the arrangement of sponsoring counties. Undoubtedly the funds raised in this way has enabled the show to put up buildings, provide hard roads and public facilities second to none. Each country at the initial stages needs to appoint a president to lead the activities. As an enabler the president needs to be a strong personality with wide public connections and detailed knowledge of the county and its residents.

In Cardiganshire an outstanding candidate was found in Dai Jones, Llanilar with his intimate knowledge of the county, having appeared in most peoples' homes and a regular performer on most platforms from one end of the county to the other.

His interests of course are unending, being a Blue Riband winner at the National Eisteddfod, an international winner at Llangollen, an uncalcuable number of other eisteddfodau and a concert performer all over the world.

If we turn to agriculture we find that together with his wife Olwen he gained success with their Friesian herd before changing to Welsh Black herd where he was the first Welsh recipient of the Queen’s Cup at the Smithfield show when he led his Welsh Black steer to victory. On the sheep dog trialling field he is a regular winner and has represented Wales and appeared in the supreme final for the highest pointed competitors.

Another highlight of his career was to receive the Sir Bryner Jones Award as the Welsh person to have done the most to bring rural and agricultural activities to the attention of the public. His achievement both as a farmer and an agricultural television presenter were recognised with the award of a Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies. Finally he was called to Buckingham Palace to be presented by Her Majesty the Queen with an M.B.E.

Certainly we have a president of many talents but also a charitable person where his talent and energies are available to a wide range of fund-raising activities.

Nobody has a better understanding of the show and its complexities having been a commentator and now bringing the activities into everyones' homes both during and after the gates have closed.

Without doubt his family at Berthlwyd will support him a 150% and nothing will be undone to achieve the best possible result for the county.

Charles Arch