THREE COUNTIES IS DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE NEW APPOINTMENT OF DIANA WALTON AS HEAD OF SHOWS FROM 1ST DECEMBER.
Three Counties, based at Three Counties Showground in Malvern, produces and hosts an annual programme of top quality horticultural and agricultural shows and Diana’s role is to lead such famous events as CountryTastic, Royal Three Counties Show, Malvern Autumn Show and Three Counties Farming Conference into their next phase of development and audience growth.
Ken Nottage, CEO of Three Counties, said: “Diana has been a closely associated with Three Counties for a number of years and we are delighted that she has taken up the challenge of ensuring our shows remain exciting and relevant to our visitors and a mainstay on the events calendar. I would like to thank Doreen Smillie-Gray for her contribution as shows manager as she takes up a different role within Three Counties. Three Counties is an ambitious event organiser and I have no doubt that under Diana’s leadership, the shows will continue to flourish.”
Diana is Malvern born and bred and has agriculture and horticulture in her blood.
Diana’s lifelong connection to the Three Counties Agricultural Society dates back to the time her uncle, Lyn Downes, was CEO for 20 years and her father exhibited for many years at Royal Three Counties Show. Her father founded Malvern based, Hadopots, which manufactures black polythene plant pots and still supplies many million ‘polypots’ around the world, including supplying a national schools growing competition run by the Agricultural & Development Board in which two million children take part.
After studying rural land management at the Royal Agricultural University, Diana qualified as a rural chartered surveyor in 1993 becoming a member of both the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.
Out of work, Diana’s high achieving family includes husband Peter, an ex-Scotland rugby international and now an International Performance coach with England Rugby; son Jack who is a Young Ambassador for Three Counties and who is following in Diana’s footsteps at the Royal Agricultural University; and daughter Lucy who is in her last year of school and competes internationally in both hockey and golf.
Speaking of her appointment, Diana said: “I am delighted to be heading up these marvellous shows and working with the team to continue our success. We have many exciting ideas and developments in the pipeline so we hope people will come and take another look next year at what we are doing. As an active member of the local community, I am especially proud of the contribution the shows make to the local economy and the national spotlight that alights on us whilst they are on; whether that is for our world record breaking giant vegetables at Malvern Autumn Show or our superb livestock and equine champions at Royal Three Counties Show.”
For more information about shows produced and hosted by Three Counties, please visit www.threecounties.co.uk or call 01684 584924.