by business editor Trevor Sturgess

EXCLUSIVE

County Show supremo George Jessel is to step down after this year's expo.

George Jessel, chairman of Kent County Agricultural Society, show organisers and owners of the Detling showground, has confirmed he will not stand for another term.

While admitting he had plenty of energy to carry on, he respected KCAS rules that limit a chairman to two terms.

Mr Jessel, an arable and livestock farmer from Brabourne, near Ashford, has been chairman for the past six years.

He is widely credited with restoring the show's profile and returning its focus to farming and horticulture.

Mr Jessel has also steered the society through a period of massive change involving the development of Kent Event Centre.

The first phase - a £1 million Clive Emson Conference Centre - was opened last year and plans are underway for a multi-million pound redevelopment of the Kent Pavilion.

However, it was not all plain sailing for Jessel. He narrowly won a vote of confidence after facing opposition over original plans that many KCAS members attacked as over-ambitious.

The plans had to be dropped because of the changing financial climate. Mr Jessel also missed out on his dream of making the showground an Olympic raining camp for the United States Equestrian team.

Mr Jessel said: "I thought 2012, with the Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, was a good time to step back and let someone else have a go.

"I go with huge regrets. It's been part of my life for so long that it will be difficult to replace. I'm going to miss the camaraderie of working with a team putting the county show together."

This year's show on July 13 - 15 will feature television presenters Sandy Gall, Adam Henson and John Craven.