by Alan Quick

VISITORS to the Devon County Show at Westpoint, near Exeter, this week will be able to catch up with all the Show news, thanks to the inspiration of the "Crediton Courier".

Students from Exeter College will set up a pop-up newsroom at the Devon County Show from May 19 to 21, just as staff from the "Crediton Courier" did in May 1984.

That year, for each of the three days of the County Show, the "Courier" staff, produced a daily newspaper from a marquee at the Show, called the "Devon Country Courier".

Alan Quick, the "Courier’s" current Editorial Manager, one of the staff who worked on the Show paper in 1984, suggested the re-launch of a Show newspaper.

He and current reporter/photographer, the former editor and proprietor of the "Courier" Sue Read were among the staff who produced the daily paper all those years ago.

The Show organisers, taking up Alan’s suggestion, have enlisted a team of Exeter College students who will film, photograph and write about what catches their eye at the county’s largest annual event.

Richard Lappas, a lecturer on the journalism and practical media course, said: “This is an exciting project with huge potential.   As it is being organised and controlled by students past and present from the foundation degree course in news journalism at Exeter College, it is going to give a whole new perspective on such a well-respected and supported event.”

Team member Darryl Stevens (23) from Exmouth: “The Devon County Show is an event I’ve attended numerous times in the past and loved every time I’ve visited. I’m Devon born and bred, so it’s great to see the backbone of the county assemble to show off what makes Devon the best.

“So it was a no-brainer to get involved with what has now become All Points West, to collaborate with other new-generation media professionals to give our take on the ins and outs of the Show. We’re really looking forward to showing what we can do with a lens and a microphone, to get ourselves noticed and to make great quality content for show-goers to read, watch and listen to.”

Robbie Jennings (21), from Exeter is keen to put into practice what he has learnt at the College: “I hope to enhance my skills in news gathering, writing, web layout and interviewing, to produce fresh and quirky content which is both informative and entertaining for visitors.”

Show Secretary Ollie Allen said she was looking forward to seeing how the team report the Show: “For just a few days every year there is a small town’s worth of people, businesses and services coming together at the showground. It will be fascinating to see what this young team make of it all.  They are our future customers, stewards, Committee members, we need to listen to them and their ideas.”

She added: “And with hundreds of competitions, non-stop entertainment and lots of features, there should be no shortage of material!”

They will publish their pick of stories online on the Show’s website under the title All Points West: www.devoncountyshow.co.uk .

This will be the 121st Devon County Show. The first was held in 1872.

Around 95,000 visitors are expected to attend.

The Showground will become home to around 600 beef and dairy cattle (nearly 20 breeds) more than 1,400 sheep, 1,000 horses, hundreds of goats, alpacas, guinea pigs, pigeons, dogs and poultry.

Local food and drink is a major attraction; one of the best food halls in the Westcountry is the huge Food and Drink Pavilion and fast-food vendors (like hog roasts etc) are required to source their products wherever possible from Devon

There will be around 750 trade stands offering everything from tractors, machinery, cars, garden features, clothing and homeware.

This year’s highlights include the Shetland Pony Grand National, Bolddog Lings motocross stunt team, Titan the Robot (Friday and Saturday), the Grand Parade of Livestock (Friday and Saturday), the Devon Eye (a giant Ferris wheel) and much more.