Lord Cameron is New President

Lord Cameron of Dillington, Ilminster, the former High Sheriff of Somerset, is the new President of the Royal Bath & West of England Society.

He took over the reins from The Rt Hon. Lord Waldegrave, PC, DL at the Society’s Council meeting at the Bath & West Showground on Thursday (November 23rd).

Handing over his presidential badge of office Lord Waldegrave paid tribute to his successor as “a major player in the countryside and farming policy and developing the rural economy.” The Society  could not, he said, have a better man at its helm at such an important time in its history.

Presenting him with a commemorative album Mr John Alvis,  member of the Society’s Executive Board, paid tribute to Lord Waldegrave’s tremendous support for the Society during his year in office. His support had been paramount and his presence at the Society’s many events and his skill and  diplomacy much appreciated.

He followed in his late father’s footsteps at a time when the Showground once again faces a new phase – a multi-million pound fund-raising project to finance new exhibition halls and redevelopment at the Showground.

His father, Earl Waldegrave, had been one of the team of leading Society members who spear-headed the Society’s move to a permanent home at the Bath & West Showground in the mid-sixties.

Lord Waldegrave, of North Hill, Chewton Mendip said he had very much enjoyed his year in office and that it had been a privileged and a pleasure for him to hold the presidential office his father had held before him

Lord Ewen Cameron runs the Dillington Estate in Somerset.  He was founding chairman of Orchard Radio (1989-99) and chaired Lets Go Travel Ltd (the South-West travel chain) (1998-2006).  He currently chairs an internet travel company called Airport Direct Travel.

Lord Cameron is a former Chairman of the Countryside Agency (1999-2004) and was the Prime Minister’s Rural Advocate (2000-2004).  He was President of the Country Landowners Association (1995-97) and has lobbied on behalf of the countryside for many years.  He was knighted for services to the countryside in 2003.  He currently represents rural interests as a crossbencher in the House of Lords and also chairs the Somerset Strategic Partnership.

Lord Cameron, who has been a member of the Society’s Council for nearly 25 years, said he was looking forward to a busy year in office and would continue to promote the regeneration process underway at the showground to ensure it had first class all year round income-earning facilities.

The environment and renewable energy areas at the Royal Bath & West Show were also extremely important areas and needed to be expanded, he said, and he looked forward to them becoming permanent features of the showground along with the new Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair becoming a permanent feature in the Society’s calendar.