Despite several major exhibitors either being away or not exhibiting there were many fine exhibits to enjoy at the show. Superb fuchsias were shown by Graham Buck and Rita Pickett, and there were several fine displays of soft fruit with Chris Gurr’s exceptionally fine redcurrants causing the judge to give him a special prize.

The floral art displays were very theatrical with Jill Jones’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” demonstrating great imagination. Amongst the flowers there was a marvellous hollyhock, a plant which is rarely exhibited for the good reason that it is difficult to find one on show day that looks as good on close inspection as it does from afar. Well, although this one did not find favour with the judge we all enjoyed seeing it and it drew many favourable comments from our visitors. The two “floating in a bowl” classes, one for clematis and the other for fuchsias, were well supported and are an attractive recent addition to the show bench.

Andrew Harding’s trug of seasonal vegetables, fruit and flowers was both a horticultural and artistic treat. There were also several fine individual exhibits in the vegetable classes, and Ian Cooper displayed an outstanding collections of vegetables.

The cookery exhibits as usual made our mouths water and the expertly platted bread from Tracy Adams caught many an eye; unfortunately we could only look and speculate what it tasted like but it made my machine made bread making seem rather tame. Amongst several lovely handicraft exhibits Annette Page’s felt mother bear with cub and pot of honey made me smile and rightly won the prize for best handicraft exhibit. Although the children’s classes were poorly supported there were several excellent entries to make up for it.

Martin Higgins

THE LEMMEY CUP - RICHARD WATSON
THE SAVILL CUP - RICHARD HILSON
THE PRESIDENT'S CUP - IAN COOPER
THE DON BROOKER FUCHSIA CUP - GRAHAM BUCK
THE GILBERT CUP - ROLF LLOYD-WILLIAMS
THE THORNBERY TROPHY - DOREEN ORTON
THE ASKEW CUP - IAN COOPER
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S BANKSIAN MEDAL - IAN COOPER
THE FILMER CUP - GILL JONES
THE FRUIT CUP - CHRIS GURR
BLUE RIBAND OF THE BRITISH FUCHSIA SOCIETY - GRAHAM BUCK
THE KEIRON JAMES TOYS SHIELD -LIAM JOLLY
THE JUNIOR SHIELD - EMILY SUTLOW

Best In Show:
VEGETABLE - TIM RICHARDSON
POT PLANT - GRAHAM BUCK
COOKERY - BRENDA HOUGHTON
HANDICRAFT - ANNETTE PAGE

Trug Class:
1st - ANDREW HARDING