Lady Philippa Dannatt MBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk, has assumed the prestigious role of President of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA) for the year 2024. Her formal induction took place during the RNAA’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday, marking a significant moment in the history of the Association. Reflecting on her deep personal connection with the Royal Norfolk Show (RNS), Lady Dannatt MBE expressed “Farming in Norfolk and the Royal Norfolk Show have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.” The Royal Norfolk Show is renowned as the largest two-day county show in the UK with a rich heritage and attracting over 80,000 visitors, with 700 stands and over 3,000 animals. Lady Dannatt MBE added “As a child, the show was always the highlight of the year. I was born and brought up in Keswick, not far from here, and it was with enormous pride that my grandparents hosted the Norfolk Show in Keswick Park, just after the war. The King and Queen came to visit and took tea at the Old Hall, Keswick. My grandfather even managed to spill tea down the King’s trousers. Hopefully, we can do better if we have a royal visitor this year.” Lady Dannatt was appointed on the 5th August 2019 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and was the first woman to become the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk. Lady Dannatt said: “We are fortunate enough to live in a county populated by a generation of hugely talented and inspirational young people, and I am delighted that this year we will be celebrating these young achievers in the Young Diamonds Tribute in the Grand Ring. “It will be fantastic to recognise and to thank all those young people who do so much for our communities and the causes closest to their hearts. “It is for them, that the RNAA and its jewel in the crown, the Royal Norfolk Show, must not only continue to exist, but to move forward, break boundaries, flourish, challenge and inspire Norfolk’s people. The young, and the not-so-young, absolutely deserve nothing less.” The Royal Norfolk Show returns this year on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th June. With Norfolk’s biggest food and drink experience, a packed Grand Ring programme and hundreds of attractions, there’s something for everyone. Mark Nicholas, Managing Director of the RNAA expressed his gratitude at the appointment of Lady Dannatt and the work of the previous president John Cushing OBE “We can’t thank John and his wife Barbara enough for all of their support for both the RNAA and the RNS. All of the team here at the RNAA are thrilled and looking forward to welcoming Lady Dannatt for 2024.”
