Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
The Devon County Show is set to return next week, bringing with it a packed programme of farming, food, countryside traditions and rural debate - with a Royal visit among the highlights.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh will attend this year’s show, continuing a long tradition of Royal involvement in one of the South West’s biggest annual events. In previous years, the show has welcomed members of the Royal Family, including Anne, Princess Royal, who visited in 2025.
Running from Thursday, 21st May to Saturday, 23rd May at Westpoint Arena, Exeter, the show will once again feature livestock competitions, countryside displays, food producers and family attractions, with gates opening daily from 10.00am.
One of the standout attractions this year will be the Heavy Horse Festival, which returns in association with Whistlefish and will be officially opened by actor and countryside advocate Martin Clunes.
A passionate supporter of traditional heavy horse breeds, Clunes said working with the animals has become a central part of his life.
“Heavy horses have been part of my life for many years now, and I’m endlessly moved by their gentleness, their intelligence, and the sheer presence they always bring to an occasion,” he said.
“To see these magnificent breeds celebrated here at the Devon County Show - and to meet the people who care for them with such passion - is a real privilege.”
Visitors will be able to get up close to some of the UK’s rarest working horse breeds, including Shires, Clydesdales, Suffolks and Percherons. The festival will include expert demonstrations, dray-pulling displays and working exhibits showcasing traditional rural skills.
Show Secretary Lisa Moore said the Heavy Horse Festival has become a firm favourite with visitors.
“We are thrilled to welcome Martin Clunes back to open the Heavy Horse Festival for the second year running,” she said. “His genuine love for heavy horses and his advocacy for their preservation makes him the perfect figurehead.”
Alongside the celebrations of rural heritage, this year’s event will also honour long-time visitor Malcolm Batten, 94, whose lifelong connection with the show spans back to childhood evacuation during the Second World War.
Organisers say Mr Batten has attended around 80 shows over his lifetime and will be recognised during the Duchess of Edinburgh’s visit on Thursday, 21st May.
He will be presented with a specially made cake shaped like his restored RAF jeep, a vehicle he rebuilt using skills learned during his service as an RAF mechanic. He will also take a ceremonial lap of the Main Ring in a vintage tractor following the traditional parade.
His enduring enthusiasm for both modern and historic machinery has made him a familiar face at the show, with organisers describing him as embodying its spirit of “heritage and progress”.
Elsewhere, John Lee OBE DL has been announced as President of the Devon County Show for 2026. A respected figure in British agriculture, he has deep family roots in Devon farming and said he felt honoured to take on the role.
“Having been involved with the Devon County Show for so long there can be no greater honour than being elected President,” he said. “The Show is powered by an incredible team of volunteers and staff, and I look forward to supporting them as we showcase all that is best in Devonshire food, farming and rural life.”
Looking ahead, a major rural policy discussion will take place on Friday, 22nd May, when the Devon County Agricultural Association hosts “Rural Matters: Question Time”. The debate, held in the President’s Pavilion, will bring together leaders from farming, finance and food sectors, with topics expected to include agricultural policy, rural crime and economic pressures facing the countryside.
The Devon County Show runs from 21st – 23rd May. Tickets are available via - www.devoncountyshow.co.uk
( Photos courtesy of Devon County Show 📸 )