Kirstan Robinson, Nelson A&P Association
The Nelson A&P Association, its volunteers and workers are mourning the loss of John Harwood, who passed away in December 2025. A long-standing supporter of Richmond Park Showgrounds and the Association, he championed their best interests.
He was a community-minded gentleman who also contributed to the Lions Club, the Hearing Association locally and nationally, and Shearing Sports across the Top of the South.
John’s connection with the Nelson A&P Show began in the 1950s, delivering messages for the Secretary’s Office as a teenager. After bringing Hereford cattle from Blairich Station in 1963 and later moving to Richmond, his involvement grew. He became a member in 1971, helping in the sheep and shearing section, and credited the ‘mistake’ of attending the 1987 AGM as to when his involvement grew.
He went on to serve as junior vice president (1989), senior vice president (1990), and president in 1991, 2004 and 2005. He also drove the Ewe Hogget Competition, spent over a decade as Association Treasurer, and served on the Grounds Committee, sharing his e knowledge of the site, particularly underground services.
Vice president Ted Ford says John “was a collector of potentially useful things and I’m sure that for many years to come we will be finding things tucked away in odd corners that he thought ‘might’ come in handy”. Ted says this will remain a reminder of John’s service to the park.
Nelson A&P manager Annette Robinson met John about 18 years ago when she was a temp bookkeeper. As he showed her around the office, he mentioned that trade applications needed to be sent out, a daunting task for someone new to A&P work. ‘Not long after one of the biggest storms occurred, with many trees lost at the park and power outages, which seriously made me wonder what I had walked into,’ Annette adds.
In later years John’s involvement slowed but remained steady. After an operation last year, John was determined to attend the Nelson A&P Show and see the 2025 Royal Agricultural Society Medal presented to David and Lyn Baigent for their long service in the shearing section. John, who received the medal in 2019 and nominated the Baigents for the honour, made it to the Show even though the presentation did not go ahead. Many say he was there in spirit when the Baigents later received the award.
‘John put in a huge amount of time at the Showgrounds and we were privileged to have known him for all of the time we have been doing the shearing at the Nelson Show,’ the Baigents say.
David and Lyn have supported the Nelson A&P Show for more than 40 years. As stewards they source sheep, organise judges and helpers, and oversee competitions. David has progressed from shearer to judge, referee and examiner, while Lyn has long handled scoring and introduced the computer-based system now used across the region.
“We were privileged to receive this award and humbled by the honour. Didn’t realise we had been doing it for so long as one year just runs into another,” they add.
Without the support and commitment of David and Lyn and John, the Association and Richmond Park Showgrounds would look very different today. John’s legacy continues through the strength of the Nelson A&P, the Showgrounds and the community he served.
