Leicester's City Mayor has said he would love to see the return of the Abbey Park Show. The huge event, which first took place in the 1940s, was scrapped in 1995.
At the height of its success, the show attracted more than 50,000 people over the two days during the August Bank Holiday. It was held at the city's Abbey Park, which is currently home to Enlightened Moments, a light trail that takes place during the winter months at the venue.
The event was buzzing with everything from beekeepers to dog and horse shows, craft stalls, model boat enthusiasts, and sport and music events. One of the more unusual acts included fire eating and in the 80s there was even a spot of bear wrestling.
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Back in 2016, reader Mr A Carter wrote to the Leicester Mercury remembering the Abbey Park show from the 1960s. He said: “It was a whole day out – and evening, too, if you stayed for the fireworks, as we always did.”
He particularly remembered the show from 1960 which was held on Tuesday, August 2 and Wednesday, August 3. Reminiscing from the programme he had kept from the event, he said: "The Championship Dog Show featured 66 breeds. They were all competing for one of the City of Leicester Silver Challenge trophies and £1,800 in prizes.
"There were smaller shows for rabbits, pigeons, poultry and guinea pigs, as well as the All England Open Show for canaries, budgerigars and foreign birds, plus exhibitions of tropical and cold water fishes, bees and honey. There were demonstrations by the Leicester Astronomical Society, the Auxiliary Fire Service and the City Health Department, as well as an 'Operating Amateur Radio Station' which was 'on the air' from 11.30am to 8.30pm each day.
"The horse show and gymkhana was a big highlight of the show with 31 classes. The show also offered what the programme called 'non-stop variety' which included 'The Breath-taking Knife Throwing Denvers'. Activities also included a 'Children’s Fun Fair, Donkey and Pony Rides and Punch and Judy'. At the end of each day there was 'a half-hour display of fireworks at dusk on the island in the river'."
Backing the show's return in 2012, Sir Peter Soulsby said: " “The question, I think, is not whether the show should be brought back. It should. It should never have been stopped.
“The question is where it should be held. I think it might be difficult to recreate it on the scale that it perhaps once was, but I would like a similar event, maybe on the bank holiday weekend in August, to bring the city together and showcase the best of who we are and what we do.
“It might be difficult for us to stage things such as showjumping, which was always a staple of the show. But there are many other things we could bring back.
“I didn’t agree with the decision to axe the show in the 1990s, despite the decision being taken by the Labour-controlled council. It was a mistake, I think. [...] I do genuinely think a big 'City of Leicester'’ show, celebrating all aspects of city life, would be a good thing. It is something I am convinced we should do."
Although it did not come back in 2012, Sir Peter is still keen to see its return. Speaking to LeicestershireLive earlier this month, he said: "I would love to see it back, I really would. It was a wonderful opportunity for all of the communities of Leicester, all of the interest groups of Leicester to come together and to share with the wider community their joys and enthusiasms.
“But what in 2012 seemed a reasonable thing to hope to be able to achieve has become increasingly difficult as the decades have worn on with the austerity that has been imposed on local councils. And it's just the case that, you know, the council having over a decade lost over a third of its senior management and over 2000 of its staff just doesn't have the people or the money to make it happen.
"I just hope that I'll be around long enough to see it to see the staff and the funding restored and the festival a possibility. It used to be a brilliant day out or two days out on the Sunday and the Monday of the August Bank Holiday when it seemed to me at the time, the whole of Leicester decamped to have fun in Abbey Park.
“It was everything from every corner of the city and there was a major horticultural show. There was a horse show, there was a dog show. The local beekeepers were alongside the Indian dancers, and it just was an absolutely brilliant day. I remember the end of the day was always marked at 8:30pm when the fireworks began over the river in the middle of the park.
“I've got many, many happy memories of it as will many people in Leicester and one day, and I'm afraid it's not going to be for a few years yet, but one day it would be great to see it happen again.
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