1896 The first annual show at Balmoral (and the 41st organised
by the North East Agricultural Association) offered prizes
totalling nearly £1,000. 1903 King Edward VII and Queen
Alexandra visited Balmoral and were received by the Marquis of
Londonderry, Lord Mayor Sir Daniel Dixon and Colonel Sharman
Crawford. The King said he had received “the biggest outburst of
cheering and applause ever heard in Belfast”. 1904 The show’s
annual report noted a big drop in takings due to bad weather and
in 1910 Balmoral’s Londonderry Hall was blown down by a
hurricane. Two apprentice painters at work inside felt the
structure trembling and only escaped in the nick of time. 1912
The first aviation accident in Ireland took place at the
Balmoral Show when an airman was killed during a flying
exhibition. Mr HJD Astley died of a fractured skull and brain
lacerations after coming to disaster following a sharp turn.
1932, 97,974 people attended the show — a UK record — and in
1933 this rose to 105,602. The Duke of Abercorn inaugur