Despite the downpours today, the hints of summer are everywhere, and the days are really warming up, which means that one of the regions finest events on the calendar is just around the corner - it's SHOWTIME!

Another year has rolled by and the annual Nelson A&P Show is on again this coming weekend (November 23rd & 24th) at the Richmond Showgrounds.
This year marks the 120th Anniversary of the local event, which must make it one of the regions longest running community activities. Bowater Toyota is proud to be a part of it all again this year, with a large display in the same spot as always, stop by and see us for some amazing show specials (more on this later in the week as they are amazing!).
Bowaters has got a long and proud association with the local A&P Show, having been in attendance for generations!

This year the show association are focusing on the history of the event in our region with a celebration of 120 years. As we were preparing for this years show we came across this old photo from the early 1960's (either 1962 or 1963) - it shows a young Rodney Bowater (with his back turned leaning over the car) with the brand new Triumph Spitfire Mark 1 at the local A&P Show.

Bowater Toyota CEO Tony Bowater with an old Bowaters A&P Show photo from the early 1960's.

We scanned in the photo so we can share it (see below) as it is just another one of those historical moments to relish. Back in those days it would have been quite the show stopper - a little sports car so new it even has got it's upholstery wrapped and protected!

Every year a handful of guys from the 75 strong staff down at Bowater's has a crack at Movember. The opportunity to grow some ridiculous facial hair that is not part of their everyday "normal" look is too good to pass up it seems.

This year we have decided to make it all official and get involved in Movember properly, with a proper Movember account and everything! This means that more of us are doing it this year than ever, including the head honchos Bowater brothers Tony and Chris. It is such a good cause that we feel that the entire Bowaters Team can take the matter seriously and do it properly which means some fund raising and moustache growing for a good cause.

We have started with a clean slate, and took a bunch of photos of those that were around and keen to participate on the 1st of November.
Here are the 'proof of life" photos with Friday's edition of the Nelson Mail as proof that faces were clean shaven on start day.

The next question will be what sort of moustaches will take shape as the month progresses. Last year there seemed to be an abundance of "boonies". What will be the Bowaters moustache of choice this year?