I have never heard so many people during and after a show saying things like ‘What a wonderful/great/stunning/fantastic Show’!!! We had thought that, with the warm spring, most of our domestic daffodils would have finished and there would be little to show. But our ‘expert’ growers did us proud and there was a really superb range of daffodils on display, with plenty too from the ‘amateurs’ among us. It was really encouraging to see 17 entries in the special ‘Arkle’ class from members who had purchased a bulb from the Society. Rolf Lloyd-Williams won this class, with Wendy Dumbleton second and Sally McBirney third but all the blooms were good – what an enormous daffodil ‘Arkle’ is! Richard Hilson, Tim Richardson, Jim Stockwell and Dave Vivash took most of the honours in the other daffodil classes with some really beautiful, perfect blooms of many different shades and sizes. The Daffodil cup, for the most points in the classes for members who have never won a first prize for daffodils, went to Betty Page.

It’s often too early for tulips but there were entries this year, with a splendid pot from Martin Higgins and a number of single stems. Spring shrubs, particularly camellias, showed well and a new class for a single camellia bloom had 16 entries. The floating hellebore heads continue to be popular, with Gill Jones’s bowl gaining the first prize. We don’t expect many vegetables in this show, but Dave Vivash’s splendid leeks were Best in Show, while Michael Elliott’s parsnips, broccoli and spinach won the Jeeves cup for the most points in the vegetable classes. Only one trug, from Andrew Harding, with an attractive collection of spring flowers and vegetables. The judge commented on the high standard of exhibits, which took him longer than usual to review.

Plenty of marmalade but not as much cookery as usual this time, although all looked delicious. Perhaps this is why Best in Show went to a jar of marmalade, produced by Janis Dyer. Entries in the Handicraft class hold up well, with lots of fun egg cosies, some beautiful jewellery and good ideas in the ‘something old from something new’ class, with Annette Page’s letter/pen-rack made from an old book being Best in Show.

Following on from last year’s successful Scarecrows, this year’s children’s class for Aliens produced some scary figures to hang in the hall. They were so good that the judge decided on a joint first prize for Matt Watson and Emily Sutlow. However, there were no newcomers so the Junior Cup was not awarded. In the Flower Arranging classes Clare Wilson’s ‘Awakening’ was particularly stunning. Not as many photographs as usual this year but some ingenious takes on the topics provided – although, surprisingly, not for ‘Lindfield Life’.

A Show wouldn’t be a show without the visitors and we had over 200 this time, which also meant a record number of teas were consumed!

Rosemary Humphreys

The Daffodil Society Bronze Medal And Certificate - Dave Vivash
The Fisk Cup - Dave Vivash
The Lea Cup - Dave Vivash
The Jeeves Cup - Michael Elliott
The Daffodil Cup - Betty Page
The Evelyn Drew Floral Art Cup - Clare Wilson
The George Murrell Photographic Cup - Tim Richardson
The Junior Shield - Emily Sutlow
The Keiron James Toys Shield - Liam Jolly

Best In Show:
Vegetable - Dave Vivash
Pot Plant - Richard Watson
Cookery - Janice Dyer
Handicraft - Annette Page

Trug Class:
1st - Andrew Harding