The 120th birthday of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS), which continues to play a leading role in the development of agriculture and the rural economy, was celebrated by members and guests during an event at the Houses of Parliament.
A gathering of influential landowners came together on February 26, 1904 to form the Welsh National Agricultural Society, an organisation that would later become the RWAS.
That meeting took place in Committee Room 12 in the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London. Exactly 120 years later, in the same room, the RWAS celebrated the history of the organisation and how it has grown to host the Royal Welsh Show, one of the largest agricultural shows in Europe.
The event was sponsored by Fay Jones, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, who welcomed guests to the Houses of Parliament on such an ‘auspicious day’. A proud supporter of the Royal Welsh, she has attended the summer show for as long as she can remember.
“This is an incredible milestone in the society’s history and, as we look to the future, I could not think of a better time to be talking about the importance of Welsh agriculture and everything the society does for Welsh rural life,” said Fay.
“I hope this is not even halfway in your fantastic history. A huge congratulations to the society for all that you have achieved in the last 120 years.”
Curators from the National Library of Wales presented a selection of archive material including a minute book relating to the first meeting, the first journal, entry forms and catalogue from the first show held in Aberystwyth in 1904.
Several archived photographs of the Royal Welsh Show and other historic artefacts, such as balance sheets, council reports, the original membership form, leaflets and pamphlets, were also on display.
Guests heard from National Library of Wales director of communications, Rhian Gibson and curators from the Department of Archives and Manuscripts and Photographic Collection.
“The National Library of Wales is very proud of its partnership with the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society,” said Rhian.
The library, founded in 1907, is the centre of research into the culture and heritage of Wales and the Celtic nations. It holds a huge amount of collections, including seven million books and newspapers, seven million feet of film, one and a half million maps, 950,000 photographs and 60,000 works of art. It’s the place to view Wales’ treasures.
Rhian urged guests to visit the collections and support the national library. “Like all Welsh cultural institutions, the library is currently facing serious challenges, at the same time farming communities are fighting to save their future,” she said.
“The Welsh National Library and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, in the decades since their founding, have worked relentlessly to preserve and enrich the land and heritage of Wales, to ensure that it is there for generations to come. We must continue with this invaluable, crucial and important work.”
During that first general meeting in 1904, founders and supporters passed a number of rules on the society’s constitution and decreed that its aims should be to improve the breeding of stock and encourage agriculture throughout Wales.
Several rules were recorded in the first leather-bound minute book on display during the event. The first being, ‘to hold an annual show, the object of which to get the best of stock from all parts exhibited in Wales.’
The first show was held a few months later in Aberystwyth on August 3 and 4. It is fitting that Ceredigion is the show’s feature county this year to celebrate the 120th anniversary.
Today, the RWAS is a national institution loved throughout Wales and beyond, not only by farmers and the rural community but by people from all walks of life, many of whom have come to regard the Royal Welsh Show as the highlight of their year.
RWAS officials, chief executive Aled Rhys Jones, chair of council Nicola Davies and chair of board of directors Professor Wynne Jones – spoke about the past, present, and future of the society and plans to develop the permanent 150-acre site in Llanelwedd.
“We’ve heard today about the founding objectives of the society and it is striking how relevant they still are today,” said Aled. “The agricultural landscape of Wales has changed enormously and is facing a period of accelerated change.
“The role of the Royal Welsh is to be a constant. A constant champion of Welsh farming whilst celebrating our unique culture and heritage.
“We see our role as a society bridging the divide between rural and urban communities, engaging with the public, raising awareness of food production, fostering a better understanding and appreciation of the wider value of agriculture and growing public confidence in our industry.”
Secretary of State for Wales, David T. C. Davies congratulated the RWAS on its 120th anniversary and thanked the National Library of Wales for the work it is doing to protect the culture and history of Wales. He emphasised the importance of farming, with 80% of the land in Wales currently under the care of farmers.
“The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society does such sterling work on behalf of farming and the rural communities in Wales,” he added.
“Farming is such a vital sector, employing over 50,000 people in Wales, contributing to our economy and essential, of course, to ensuring that we all have food and drink to sustain us.”
Commenting on the success of the day, Aled added, “It was such a special occasion, everyone felt enormously privileged to be in the very room where it all started, soaking up 120 years of history.
“We also felt a huge sense of responsibility to protect and enhance this wonderful institution for years to come. We are extremely grateful for the support from the National Library of Wales and that we could hold an event coinciding with Wales in London Week. On to the next 120 years and more!”
