Eight months after she became the first female leader of Scotland’s flagship agricultural event, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland has announced Rebecca Elvin has stepped down from her position as show manager.
Ms Elvin, who joined the society from the Royal County of Berkshire Show, only took up her post at the ‘Highland’ on February 25.
She became the society’s first female show manager after the retirement of former show manager David Dunsmuir, who stood at the helm of the Highland for 15 years.
In a shock announcement, RHASS chief executive Stephen Hutt said Ms Elvin had left the society with “immediate effect”.
He said he now intends to take on the responsibility for the show while the recruitment process for a new show manager gets under way.
Paying credit to Ms Elvin for leading the ship throughout the 2013 show season, Mr Hutt said: “We would like to thank Becky for all her hard work and commitment and wish her all the best for the future.”
According to an RHASS spokesperson, Ms Elvin departs the society under mutual agreement.
Announcing the appointment of Ms Elvin at the turn of the year, the society said the new leading lady would bring numerous strengths to the position stemming from a wealth of experience in event management.
Ms Elvin, a graduate from Leeds University, relocated to Scotland from the position of general manager at the Newbury and District Agricultural Society’s two-day show.
An equestrian girl at heart, Ms Elvin has worked within the press team of international equestrian events such as Badminton and the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
She was also a “gamesmaker” volunteer for the London 2012 equestrian events.