CHESHIRE farmer Tony Garnett is looking forward to showing a member of the royal family around the Cheshire Show next week.

Princess Anne will visit the Tabley Showground for the second day of the two-day event on Wednesday, June 19, to mark the show’s 175th anniversary.

But it was thanks to Tony, who is chairman of the Cheshire Agriculture Society, that HRH will be making an appearance at the annual show.

In September 2012, he attended the Royal Agriculture Society of the Commenwealth farming tour and conference in Zambia with his wife Pam, and it was then when he asked HRH – who is president of the RSC – if she would take the role of president for the 2013 Cheshire Show.

Tony, who is also president of Cheshire National Farmers Union, told the Guardian it was a great honour to show the Princess Royal around the Tabley showground.

“It’s not something I would have expected to do and as chairman you get to do a range of activities but that’s one of the nicer roles,” he said.

“It was just by chance when we met her and I managed to have a word with her about the 175th anniversary and she didn’t accept at the time but we wrote in and she accepted our invitation.

“It is one of the oldest show societies in the country and it’s nice to be able to carry it on and I hope that everyone will enjoy it.”

Tony has received many farming accolades over the year, with the latest being the Cheshire Farms Competition Farming Ambassador Trophy which was awarded for the promotion of Cheshire agriculture.

This year’s show, which is held at the Tabley Showground, near Knutsford, is expected to attract more than 80,000 visitors over the two days, and will again focus on the county’s rich agricultural heritage with thousands of livestock, horses and dogs in competition.

In addition to the animals the public will get the chance to see a rural past times including falconry, ferreting and a pack of hounds in the Countryside Experience Area, while the Roberts Speciality Food Live Theatre will see live cookery demonstrations from TV chefs Simon Rimmer, and Nigel Haworth, Masterchef: The Professionals winner Claire Lara, Brian Mellor and Sean Wilson.

The main attractions also include a display by one of the world’s leading stunt motorcyclists, Matt Coulter AKA ‘The Kangaroo Kid’, and live music from the Scots Guard Association Pipe and Drum Band, who return by popular demand.

TICKET PRICES: On the gate: adults £17, senior citizen £14, child (aged between 5 and 16) £8, concessions £14, family £35.

e-tickets: adult £15, senior citizen £12, child (5-16) £7, concession £12, family £33.