SOURTON farmer and Okehampton Lions' Club member of 25 years Roger Alford, 57, has been chosen as the new president of Okehampton Show.

Mr Alford said he was surprised but greatly honoured to be selected as president of a show he had been going to for as long as he could remember.

The Alford family have been connected with farming for five generations in the Sourton parish but the new president supplements his farming income through his job as a ranger on the Okehampton firing range.

'Small family farms are not viable unless you have other interests now,' said the farmer, who has been a member of Sourton Parish Council for 20 years.

Some of his earliest memories were of delivering milk around the parish on his push bike in the days when his father had a dairy business.

A former captain of Okehampton Rugby Club in 1971/72, Mr Alford has also been a member of the Lions' Club in Okehampton since its formation a quarter of a century ago and he has been an active member of the Sourton Commoners' Committee for 20 years following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

Despite his involvement in many groups and committees he has never been a member of the Okehampton and District Agricultural Association, which organises the show.

It has been in his capacity as a Lion that the farmer has been involved in helping the show, selling show catalogues for many years.

Mr Alford, who studied at Bicton Agricultural College, has been married to Helen for 35 years and has one son, Paul.

He said since the Okehampton Show had moved from the rugby club it had got bigger and better each year.

'It is one of the friendliest shows in Devon and it is down to the association that it is so successful,' he said.

'It's a great honour to be president and I plan to enjoy the day very much.'

Chairman of the Okehampton and District Show Association, Bill Voaden, said Mr Alford had been a 'very popular choice'.

In a new move the association has chosen next year's president in advance so they have time to get acquainted with the job. It will be Okehampton resident Jeffe Cunliffe, who as town mayor opened the show in 1976 — 25 years ago next year.

The 1999 Okehampton Show made £6,892 profit. Those to benefit were Okehampton Rotary Club, £2,000, Okehampton Lions' Club, £130, Okehampton Town Band, £500 and seven grants of £500 were given to pending agricultural students. A discretionary grant of £250 was also given to a mature student.