ORGANISERS of this year's Frampton Country Fair have put together an exciting programme of activities in celebration of the event's 20th anniversary.

This year's show takes place on Sunday, September 11. In addition to many favourites there will also be a selection of brand new performers - demonstrating some very old skills.

In this year of Trafalgar celebrations it seemed very fitting to include the Royal Navy in the main ring displays.

All the way from Portsmouth, the Field Gun Display Teams from HMS Dolphin and HMS Excellent will be battling it out to get their 850 pound weapons across the finishing line first.

The competition is much more than a demonstration of raw muscle and precision timing, and has its roots in another era.

During the South African War of 1899-1900 guns from HMS Powerful and Terrible were taken ashore and manhandled hundreds of miles across difficult terrain, before going into action against the Boers and relieving the siege at Ladysmith.

Another new performer will be doing things at a much more sedate pace. Hywel Morgan is the World Fly Casting Champion and he will be showing off the skills which have made him British Champion on no less than seven occasions.

Hywel's demonstration is instructional and entertaining which will appeal to anglers and non anglers alike.

It is this variety of displays and exhibits which has helped to make the Frampton Country Fair one of the most popular events of its type in the West Country.

Over 10,000 people attended the show in 2004 and as well as enjoying a good day out, helped to raise thousands of pounds for local good causes and countryside organisations.

The arena and exhibitions are spread across 30 acres of open parkland next to one of the best carp fishing lakes in England.

The lake is also home to one of the largest flocks of swans, outside of Slimbridge, in the South West.

Rollo Clifford and his estate staff have the task of pulling together many hundreds of exhibitors and performers for what is the biggest day in this otherwise quiet Severn Vale village.

He said: "The whole thing began in quite a modest way. It was 1986 when the Gloucestershire Wildfowlers Association held their first event at Frampton. The crowds then would have been counted in the hundreds.

"Although the scale of the show has changed dramatically, it is first and foremost a celebration of the skills and activities that have shaped the countryside over many centuries - native breeds such as Gloucester cattle, dry stone walling, a companion dog show and the best fly caster in the world, they're all there.

"Hundreds of animals, entertainment for children, dozens of exhibitors and displays and of course the opportunity for a bit of retail therapy."

Returning once again to the show will be the ever popular tent pegging horsemen. Their skills with a lance on a galloping horse have always been a favourite with the Frampton crowds.

And there will be lots of animal stars too. Another first at the 2005 event will be staging of the Cotswold Cart Horse Annual Show.

The military connections of Frampton Court go far beyond the demonstrations which will treat the audience at the Country Fair.

In 1944 the park where the fair is held was a staging area for the Normandy landings and many hundreds of allied troops camped and prepared equipment prior to their move to the South coast.

The overall theme for the event will be The Living Working Countryside.

On show will be rural skills which have been in slow decline over time but which in recent years have seen a resurgence in interest - hedge laying, wicker work, cider making, spinning and those of the blacksmith, farrier and saddler.

The show gates open at 10am on Sunday, September, 11. Adult tickets are £7, children (5-15) £2. Further details available from the estate office 01452 740698 or www.framptoncountryfair.org.uk