New Deputy Show Director appointed

The Suffolk Agricultural Association has appointed Mendlesham-based arable farmer and contractor David Nunn as the deputy director of the Suffolk Show 2010.

The third generation of his family to farm the 1000 acres, David held the same role in 2006 and was chosen by the show director Peter Over. He follows in the footsteps of Bee Kemball who was the first woman to hold a show director role in its 178 year history. 

It’s a position he is looking forward to. “I thoroughly enjoy the show and am passionate about it. Every year is different. Before I was a deputy show director first time around I did not have a clue about other aspects of the show. Then you get involved in every aspect and learn things that you never realised in 30 years. It’s also an opportunity to work with some clever people from all walks of life and businesses. It has really helped me to broaden my outlook. You don’t get too much of that as a farmer working for most of the time on your own,” he said.

David first became a show steward in 1977 at Gate D with Andrew Williamson and continued in the role for 16 years until he was asked to be a heavy horse steward. For the past nine years he has been senior steward for this highly popular area of the show.

Prior to the arrival of his three children, all of whom rode; David would have shied away from anything equine and confessed he hated horses. “Once the children started competing and we travelled with them to show the horses my wife Karen and I had no choice but to be involved,” he said. “One day I watched the hunt go by and thought, I’d like to do that. So I went out and bought a horse and on my second day, with absolutely no riding lessons or training, I went out hunting. It was a disaster. I fell off so many times and ached for six months.”

But he had caught the bug and 13 years later he is an active member of the Easton Harriers, one of the oldest packs of hounds in the country, he is the past chairman and has been the Master of Hounds for the past eight years. He is passionate about the hunt and ensuring that young people hear the real message about harriers and appreciate their role in society.

In the meantime his son James, who works with him on the farm travels up and down the county showing and show jumping and was highly placed at the Horse of The Year Show this year. David has expanded the farm to include a livery yard for 38 horses run by his daughter Lisa. His younger daughter Annabelle gave up riding to play hockey for England and is now a multi-sport coach in Surrey and Kent.

His equine involvement extends outside the county to The Royal Show where he has been a heavy horse steward for the past four years and is a member of the show committee investigating its future, following its demise in its current form this year.

A life long volunteer, he worked with Danish-based International Agricultural Exchange Association placing young people in agricultural roles throughout the world, helping them with work permits, travel and accommodation at a time when global travel was not so widespread. “At its peak in the 1970s there were 1000 young people out at anyone time,” said David who became the vice-president in 1979 and still maintains contact with many of those he placed more than 30 years ago.