Meet the Director -Dennis Bridgeford
As Chief Steward of the catering and bars at the Royal Highland Show, RHASS Director for the Highlands Dennis Bridgeford is responsible for ensuring your taste buds are satisfied on your visit to the showground. We caught up with Dennis to find out about his role within RHASS and his career in agriculture.
Can you give us a brief summary of your career?
I went to agricultural college to study which led to three years procurement in the meat trade. I was then the manager of a pig unit, before eventually purchasing my own.
Have you always been in the agriculture industry?
I was born into the pig industry thanks to my family’s involvement, so I grew up on pig farms. Naturally, I loved working with them and in my mid-twenties, a few years after leaving college, I began working in a partnership on a pig farm. Then came the opportunity to buy one of my own. This was a day I’d been working towards for a while, so it was very exciting when it finally came.
What is your history with RHASS?
I’ve been a member of RHASS since 1982 and I’ve attended the Royal Highland Show every year since leaving school. In fact, this year will be my 47th Show!
I am a four-year Director and have been in the role for three years, so I have a year left as a Director, which I am thoroughly looking forward to.
How are you involved at the Royal Highland Show?
I am Chief Steward of catering and bars, so I have a very big and important job considering how many food and drink establishments there are at the Royal Highland Show! It’s my job to check all the food outlets and bars to ensure they are up to standard – we want to showcase the best of Scottish food and drink, so we can’t leave visitors disappointed.
What are you most proud of achieving as a RHASS Director?
I helped in the drive to improve the quality of all the food outlets at the Royal Highland Show because we cannot be seen to tolerate low quality food or establishments. We consistently want to showcase the best of the best to anyone attending. I also helped drive responsible alcohol use which has been very successful in recent years.
Why is what RHASS does still relevant today?
RHASS has always strived to remain relevant within the agriculture industry, because this is an area facing massive changes and we, as an organisation, have to be right there leading from the front.
What advice would you give someone interested in getting involved with RHASS?
Don’t hesitate in getting involved if you fancy it. It’s a fantastic thing to be a part of and you will have the pleasure of being among some fantastic characters. You won’t regret getting involved with RHASS.
If you want to know more about how to get involved with RHASS and how we can help you, don’t hesitate to get in touch.