KEIGHLEY Show is preparing to celebrate a milestone.

This year's annual extravaganza, on Saturday, September 2, will be the 60th.

Organisers this week reflected on that debut show, which was a huge success.

The inaugural Keighley & District Agricultural Show Society event was held in the town's Victoria Park.

There were 300 classes, with £900 awarded in prize money.

Tickets were 2s if bought in advance, or 2s 6d on the day.

During the week leading up to the event, two show rings and 28 marquees were erected – covering 30,000sqft of the park.

Seating for up to 2,000 people, on two sides of the main ring, was loaned by Keighley Gala committee.

Show entries totalled about 2,500, with sections including pigs, goats, cattle, sheep, poultry and bantams, budgerigars, rabbits, dogs, pigeons and horses.

There were 200 entries in the horse section alone, a figure which would have been even higher if the 'leaping and riding' classes hadn't clashed with the Harrogate Horse Trials.

Other sections included honey – which, with 88 entries, fared better than the Great Yorkshire Show – and handicraft and domestic.

And incorporated into the event was the Keighley Horticultural & Allotment Holders' Association annual show, held for the first time in conjunction with another body.

A children's gymkhana was supported by Keighley Cycling Club, which gave over £20 in prizes across six classes.

Keighley Model Engineering Society operated children's rides on its railway track.

Police horses from Bradford and Manchester provided entertainment in the main ring.

The show's official luncheon was held in the mansion house, and there were numerous trade stands.

An estimated 16,000 visitors attended the show.

There'd been heavy rain and strong winds the night before, which caused some damage to the handicraft and domestic marquee, but show day was fine.

Guests at the event included MP Charles Hobson, who paid tribute.

"After two world wars we have realised the importance of agriculture and anything we can do to further agriculture is of paramount importance – particularly when we remember that about two-thirds of our food is imported and what it costs us in currency and dollars," he said.

Among those who have been involved in the show since it began are George and Gladys Emmott, now life members, and they will be present again next month.

Both have served as president.

At the inaugural event, an 18-year-old Gladys – then Clough – received the Society Cup for the owner of the Young Farmers' Best Beast in Show.

The couple said there had been significant changes over the years.

"There were no trailers or parking for trailers in those days so a cattle mover – David Ogden – transported other entrants' cattle to and from the show," they said.

"Farmers started to get their own trailers from around 1960-62.

"Dairy cattle were tied to a rope which was in turn tied to wooden railings – they weren't in marquees.

"Rosamund Mitchell, who is still involved with the show, was cattle secretary.

"The entry fees of 5s for horses and cattle were considered expensive, but the first-prize money of £2 to £2 10s was worth having!"

Shire horses didn't feature in the first show, but Mr Emmott introduced them to future events.

A whole host of attractions is lined-up for this year's landmark show, at Marley playing fields.

Advance tickets for adults are £6 – a £2 saving on admission charges on the day.

And for those aged 60-and-over and for five-to-15-year-olds it's £4, compared to £5 on the day.

Under-fives are admitted free.

Tickets are available at keighleyshow.co.uk until Friday (Aug 25), and in person until August 30 from Morrisons, in Worth Way, Keighley; Sainsbury's, Cavendish Street, Keighley; Highfield Stores, Highfield Road; C&L Herd Butchers, Queens Road, Ingrow; J Lund Butchers, Oakworth Road, Keighley; Spar, Station Road, Haworth; Twiggs Newsagents, Kirkgate, Silsden, and from the Co-op stores in Station Road, Oakworth, Station Road at Oxenhope and Bradford Road, Riddlesden.

For more details, visit the website, e-mail secretary@keighleyshow.co.uk or call 01535 930459.