DESPITE the wet weather, Okehampton Show glowed in the warm atmosphere for which it has become renowned last Thursday and the consensus of the crowds which piled through the gates was: 'It's great to see it back.'
After a year of troubles and trauma caused by the foot and mouth crisis, this was the perfect opportunity for the Okehampton community to get together and enjoy themselves — and the day did not disappoint.
Livestock may have been absent but the show committee had made up for the lack of cattle and sheep by introducing new animal sections such as the pigeons and rabbits and new attractions like the local food promotion tent proved extremely popular.
No-one was more pleased to see the large crowds than show president Jeffe Cunliffe who called the day 'the greatest of his life.'
'There is a fantastic spirit here today which is typical of the Okehampton Show and, livestock or no livestock, the people come out to support it,' said Mr Cunliffe who 'felt like royalty' when a Rolls Royce turned up at his house to take him to the show.
'I am thrilled to see so many here and it has really made the day extra special for me,' he said. 'We all owe a great debt to main organisers Bill and Pam Voaden and Gilly Oliver for making today happen.'
Show chairman Bill Voaden was presented with a gift for 25 years service to the Okehampton Show and the ultimate show champion prize was won by a nine-year-old hunter called 'Archie' owned by Valerie Evans of Chagford.
Two special attractions this year were a display from the King's Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery and the Queen's pigeons from the Royal Loft at Sandringham to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee year.
The pigeon section was run by Joy Cook from Beaworthy who said it had been a great success with 132 entries.
'We wrote to all the members of the Racing Pigeon Association and had entries from all over Cornwall, Devon and Gloucestershire,' she said. 'There has been a lot of interest and we have been greatly encouraged to do it again if the show committee wants us to.'
Secretary of the poultry tent Steven Ley said unfortunately entries were down by about 50 because many of the exhibitors were retired farmers who had decided not to come to the show this year, but lots of children had taken part.
'We have introduced prize money into the children's classes to try and encourage more youngsters to join in,' he said.
Sticklepath WI celebrated a second year in the top spot after their display 'A Day at the Seaside' won first prize.
Visitors enjoyed the sounds of the Ploughboy Jazz Band as they strolled around the tent.
William Clatworthy of Oaklands Residential Park, Okehampton, won the best kept garden for the fifth year running, wowing the judges with his array of colourful blooms all year round.
Show president Jeffe Cunliffe, who presented a new trophy for the title two years ago, said: 'William grows everything from seed and to visit his garden is an absolute treat.
'He is in a class of his own at the moment and when we go around judging it's a question of looking for second and third.'
The food tent, introduced for the first time to promote the best of the west, was a great hit. Rachel Stephens from Curworthy Cheese of Jacobstowe said it had been very professionally organised and favourable comments had been received from visitors.
'Foot and mouth devastated the area but if there's one good thing to come out of it it's that people tend to question more where their food comes from,' she said.
Local celebrity and President Elect for next year Noel Edmonds said he was delighted to be back at the event which celebrated everything that was good about the Westcountry.
'It's a chance to meet up with old friends and sample the very reason why we live here — good friendships and the best of the countryside,' he said. 'It is a shame there are not more animals but I understand why the decision was taken not to take livestock — next year it will be even better.'
West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett said the 2002 Okehampton Show was a tribute to the show committee and the people of Okehampton and the surrounding parishes for their 'resilience and courage'.