Kent County Show to Stage Spectacular Displays

The 2018 Kent County Show on 6, 7, 8 July is set to be action packed with a full three days of entertainment and shopping for visitors to enjoy. Performing twice a day in the main Astor Ring will be the spectacular Household Cavalry Musical Ride. Following their involvement with the Royal Wedding this year, they will perform at the 2018 Show in full state ceremonial uniforms and will demonstrate the Regiment’s precise battlefield and ceremonial manoeuvres all carried out to music. Supporting the Household Cavalry Musical Ride is the Kent Spitfire aerial display. The aircraft is a staple of the Kent County Show and a British icon and will perform a flypast full of stunts on each day of the Show. The ‘Spirit of Kent’ better known as ‘The Kent Spitfire’ is a MK9 TA805 with the No. 234 Squadron colours. The aircraft flies in memory of No. 131 (County of Kent) Fighter Squadron. Making a very special appearance this year will be the iconic ‘Every One Remembered’ sculpture commissioned by The Royal British Legion. The unique installation will provide a fitting tribute to the thousands of lives lost by servicemen and women from the commonwealth during the First World War. The sculpture, designed by award-winning artist Mark Humphrey, features the ‘Centenary Soldier’ standing on a plinth of limestone sourced from the Somme. Finished in bombshell brass, the statue was inspired by the artist’s own grandfather who inherited a brass bombshell, decorated by his great-grandfather in the trenches when he fought in the Somme in 1916. Joining the ‘Every One Remembered’ statue will be a community built knitted poppy display which will be hosted inside the newly located Garden Life Marquee. Show organisers, the Kent County Agricultural Society are keen to include over 10,000 poppies; knitted, crocheted or crafted from felt by the local community. The display will also include over 20,000 poppies already contributed to previous displays by local Council Gateways and Nucleus Arts in Rochester. Lucy Hegarty, Show Manager of the Kent County Show, said: “We wanted to be able to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War with a fitting tribute to those that lost their lives. Having the ‘Every One Remembered’ sculpture at the Show, alongside the community knitted poppy display will form a beautiful centre piece to the Garden Life marquee and an opportunity for our visitors to help raise important funds for the Royal British Legion.” Bringing a touch of English Folk tradition to the Show will be some of the many Kent based Morris Dancers. The Kits Coty Morris Dancers, Boughton Monchelsea Morris team and the Bagman Hartley Morris Men will dance their way around the three-day Show. Joining them will be Vic Ellis and his roving one-man band. Covered in over 20 musical instruments, Vic performs a large repertoire of traditional airs and sea shanties. Love him or hate him, Titan the Robot never fails to draw a crowd and will be appearing on Saturday and Sunday this year. This incredible, giant robot is a real crowd pleaser and has become an essential part of the Kent County Show over the past decade. Having worked alongside stars such as Rihanna and Will Smith, the 2.4 meter tall robot is a sight not to miss. Music continues to play an important part of the free entertainment at the Show for 2018. The Bandstand has a line up of the best musicians in the County. Casablanca Steps and the FB Pocket Orchestra will be bringing the sound of the 1920s with the foot tapping jazz and blues style. Bamboozle will be rocking out to their rock and retro swing music for their first appearance at the Show. New for 2018, will be the Maidstone Tuneless Choir. Set up for those who love singing but lack the ability, practice or confidence to do so, they formed a group of likeminded people and started to sing. They will be performing their uplifting repertoire of songs on Saturday at the Show. For our younger visitors, the Tractor Ted area will teach young children all about farming as well as providing a fun opportunity to bounce around on the Tractor Ted bouncy castle. Pony Parties Kent will be providing free pony rides in the Country, Game and Canine area and Punch and Judy will feature in the Heritage Vintage Vehicle area. For those visiting with their dog, Maidstone Activity Dogs’ will have an agility and obstacle course for your canine friend to try out or they could have a go at the K9 Aqua’s Splash n’ Dash to see how far they can jump. The gundog scurry by Dog Solutions is also open to visitors as is the terrier racing once the professionals have shown you how to do it. The Show will continue to feature the usual food halls, flower show, livestock displays, show jumping, antiques and vintage village, and shopping stands. New for 2018, will be the Enterprise Zone featuring ten Kent based companies that have been running for less than a year. Each has received a free trade stand to help them increase exposure for their company. Products and services include handmade textiles and placemats, silk flowers, accessories for babies, a local artist and photographer, bees wax products, an entertainment agency, and specially designed t-shirts for breast feeding mums and children with autism. Show Manager, Lucy Hegarty, said “We’ve been working hard to gather the best entertainment and trade stands available to make sure there’ll never be a dull moment at the 2018 Kent County Show. There’s certainly something for everyone to have a go at, watch and enjoy.” To see all these acts and more, visit the Kent County Show at the Kent Showground on 6, 7, 8 July. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling 01622 633060 or through the website here www.kentshow.co.uk