An edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural affairs programme Landmark presented by Eric Robson that comes from the country show Rochester taking place in Redesdale in Northumberland. The show is celebrating its centenary and the programme follows three very different competitors taking part; Jimmy Douglas a flower grower from Hindhope near Jedburgh, baker Cathy Scott from Otterburn and sheep breeder Ken Johnson. Includes interviews with Laurence Corbett, Chairman Rochester Show 1947-1972...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural affairs programme Landmark presented by Eric Robson that comes from the country show Rochester taking place in Redesdale in Northumberland. The show is celebrating its centenary and the programme follows three very different competitors taking part; Jimmy Douglas a flower grower from Hindhope near Jedburgh, baker Cathy Scott from Otterburn and sheep breeder Ken Johnson. Includes interviews with Laurence Corbett, Chairman Rochester Show 1947-1972 and sheep judge Ossie Johnson. Title: Landmark Eric Robson introduces the programme from the site of the Redesdale show at Rochester in Northumberland in their centenary year. Farmers and other visitors arrive at the showground, one of a dozen shows in the Northumberland farmers calendar and is held on the final Saturday in September. Planning for the centenary show has taken two years. The film moves to Philagar Farm at Hindhope near Jedburgh where Jimmy Douglas grow dahlias as a hobby and has been a shepherd at Philagar for the past 21 years. The flowers are grown to decorate the house but also to enter country show competitions. On camera he says he has been quite successful over the past few years. He also exhibits vegetables, especially potatoes, and he describes the ideal show quality potato as he digs up a potential entrant from a new crop. Baking is also a feature of country shows and Cathy Scott a shepherd’s wife from Otterburn bakes every week for her family, rarely buying ready baked produce. She exhibits items she has made at the Rochester show and has won prizes, but one baker seems to excel and Cathy finds her difficult to beat. Ken Johnson is a sheep breeder, specialising in the Swaledale breed and a Rochester show regular. He talks of his success at other shows, but he is uncertain about the Rochester show. The family farm is Wolf Hills near Haltwhistle, quite distant from Rochester however, as Ken explains, apart from wanting to do well at showing the sheep, there are potential selling opportunities to be had attending remote shows. The film shows the interviewees busy preparing for the current show. A Punch and Judy at the show amuses the children at the now open 100th Rochester show. A marquee showing handicrafts and other displays including flowers is one of the most popular draws for visitors. Cathy Scott sets her baked products out on a table for scrutiny by the judges. Jimmy Douglas attends to his fragile flowers after their 30-mile journey. Cathy Scott hopes she may trump her rival with her girdle scones. Ken Johnson arrives with his Swaledale sheep and he explains how he prepares for the show. Title: Landmark Eric Robson gives a brief history of the Rochester show, once known as the Rochester Picnic and Flower Show, emphasising the idea of fun and entertainment for the local community. Laurence Corbett, Chairmen of the Rochester Show from 1947 to 1972 reminisces about the show. Children take part in race, running across open grassland. Family dogs are scrutinised in a competition and quoits are thrown. A judge examines Ken Johnsons Swaledale sheep. Local farmer Ossie Johnson also acts as a judge and examines the sheep, he explains what judges are looking for when assessing an animal. Ken Johnson leads the competition in the Swaledale class. Pat Storey and a colleague judge the flowers and study the quality of the dahlia blooms. Lucy Stephenson is a judge in the baking section. Jimmy Douglas’s potatoes get a thorough examination. The judges examine Jimmy Douglas’s dahlias; his onion entries have already won prizes. Judging is finally over and the competitors can now find out if they are successful. Jimmy Douglas wins rosettes for his flowers Cathy Scott has been successful in several entries. Ken Johnson has first prizes for his sheep. Eric Robson reflects on the 100th Redesdale show and ends the programme. Title: Hoi Polloi Film and Video Credits: Camera Chris Sutcliffe Sound Paul Gunn Electrician Bill Hughes Production Assistant Pauline Grant Production Secretary Coreen Harvey VT Editors Amanda Baxter, Howard Beebe, Peter Telford VT Assistant Editor Claire Storey Sound Postproduction John Overton Executive Producer Chris Potter Director Simon Lawson Producer Charles Bowden Waterfront Productions for Tyne Tees Television© MCMLXXXIX