Belford Show is one of those events that reminds you, if a reminder were needed, why living, working and volunteering in rural North Northumberland is such a privilege. The livestock, the produce, the competitions, the crowds — the whole magnificent, cheerfulness of a village show. We love it, and we love being part of it.
This year, Bell View came with something new: our very own Wheel of Fortune. And what a wheel it was — built by the extraordinarily talented Ali Gilholme and Sparky, who between them produced something that looked brilliant, worked perfectly, and drew people in from across the showground with the irresistible logic of any mechanism that involves spinning something and seeing what happens.
People came. People spun. They landed on gifts — always a pleasure — or forfeits, which produced, we are pleased to report, an excellent standard of forfeit-taking. There was good humour throughout, the occasional dramatic spin, and a steady stream of visitors to the Bell View stall who left knowing a little more about what we do and perhaps feeling a little more connected to us. Which is, of course, the point.
Being present at Belford Show matters to us. It is an opportunity to be visible in the community we serve, to talk to people we might not otherwise meet, to remind those who know us that we are still here and to introduce ourselves to those who don’t. North Northumberland covers a wide area, and not everyone who might benefit from Bell View’s services knows about us. Events like the Show are part of how we change that.
Thank you again to Ali Gilholme and Sparky for the extraordinary Wheel of Fortune — it was the hit of the day, and we are enormously grateful. Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who staffed the stall and represented Bell View with their usual warmth and good humour. And thank you to everyone who spun the wheel, accepted their forfeit with grace, and made it another day to remember.