We hold shows in Spring, Summer and Autumn and a competition in August
Bulbs and Blossom
Wednesday 5th April 2023, 6:45pm
The first show of the year, and a chance to cheer ourselves up with a display of bulbs, cut flowers and house plants. There will also be classes for Jelly and Marmalade again this year.
Details of the winners in 2019 and pictures of the entries are below.
Roses, Pinks, Sweet Peas and Carnations
Wednesday 5th July 2023, 6:45pm
Another chance for the flower growers to shine! This year there are classes for pastel and bright coloured vases flowers as well as the usual ones for single flower types. .
The winners and pictures from 2018 are below. Liz Watson won Best in Show with her vase of red white and blue flowers.
Flowers, Produce, Baking, Jam and Chutney
Wednesday 6th September, 2023, 6:00pm
The Autumn Show is always our biggest and best. We make an early start to allow competitors to stage their entries before judging. The mayor presents the prizes at our meeting which follows at 7.30pm.
There are classes for flowers, fruit and vegetables and a bit of home cooking!
In 2019 we had a record 97 entries and a marvellous display of plants and produce. We hope it will be as popular again this year.
There were 52 entries for the show and members produced a dazzling display of daffodils and spring flowers and a good selection of jams. Pam Beedham again won first for her pot of bulbs and another for her blossom. Jenny Matthews won first prize for the Small Arrangement which Pam Beedham kindly sponsors. Best in Show was won by Catherine Dallaway for her delightful arrangement of spring flowers and foliage. Congratulations to Caroline Rowe, Linda Williams and Catherine Dallaway for winning firsts in the Curd, Marmalade and Jelly classes where the competition was hot.
Thanks to Andrew Caine and Aurelie Gardino for judging and Jeff Soulsby our speaker for presenting the prizes.
Photos of the 2019 show will be added soon!
Class 1 - 6 stems spring flowers Liz Watson
Class 2 - 3 Stems of blossom Pam Beedham
Class 3 - Vase of flowers and foliage Catherine Dallaway
Class 4 - Container of bulbs Pam Beedham
Class 5 - Foliage pot plant Janet Bates
Class 6 - Curd Caroline Rowe
Class 7 - Marmalade Linda Williams
Class 8 - Jelly Catherine Dallaway
We had 98 entries for the show (13 more than last year) which is excellent and a record for recent years. Thank you to everyone who took part and our Judges Andrew Caine, and Aurelie Gardino. Congratulations to the class and cup winners. Pam Beedham won a cup for her Eucomis as did Chri Draper for her mixed cut flowers. New cup winners were Janet Bates for her potted orchid and pears and Sue Ashley for her squash. Sue also bagged the prize for the strangest shaped vegetable with a weird Khol Rabi. In the baking section Janet Lawrence swept up 3 first prizes but Bernice Astling won the Cup for her Jam.
The Mayor presented the prizes and after the show Monique entertained us with a talk about her first year on a new allotment, her successes and failures. It was a very enjoyable evening.
1 - 3 stems flowers Pam Beedham J Roberts Cup (1-2)
2 - 3 stems dahlias Catherine Dallaway
3 - Mixed cut flowers Chris Draper Rainbow Challenge Cup (3-4)
4 - Mixed foliage Janet Lawrence
5 - Flowering pot plant Janet Bates Smith Challenge Cup (5-8)
6 - Foliage pot plant Liz Watson
7 - Cactus or Succulent Liz Watson
8 - Pot of Herbs Janet Lawrence
9 - 6 Runner Beans Jennifer Matthews
11 - 6 Tomatoes Liz Watson
12- Squash vegetable Sue Ashley A E Barnet Cup (9-13)
13 - Any other vegetable Myra Wilkinson
14 - Strange shaped veg Sue Ashley
15 - 3 Apples or 6 Plums Janet Bates The Challenge Cup (15-16)
16 - 10 Soft Fruit Pat Warner
17 - Jam or Jelly Bernice Astling Alan Davis Cup (17-20)
18 - Pickle or Chutney Janet Lawrence
19 - 6 Scones Janet Lawrence
20 - Date & Walnut Cake Janet Lawrence
Each year in March members can purchase a small plug plant.. The plants are then nurtured by their owners until August when we run a competition for the best grown plant.
In 2018 it was a Fuchsia and we had a lot of entries with the full range of sizes, flowers and health on display. Thank you to everyone who brought their plant back, and made the competition so much fun.
Bernice Astling won the prize for the best Fuchsia.. There was hot competition for the consolation prize with several impressively sickly entries but Paula Hallam clinched it with her very poorly little plant.. 'I can only grow vegetables' was her response!
We had a lot of entries for the show this year: the Red White and Blue arrangement to celebrate American Independence Day was particularly popular. Our Show Secretary, Myra , went the whole hog with her American outfit. The members voted for classes 1-4 and 6. Pam Beedham judged the small arrangement, and Andrew Caine judged the Best in Show. Jenny took first prize again this year with her beautiful roses but Pam Beedham stole the show with wins for her carnations and exotic lilies. Best in Show was won by Liz Watson for her Red White and Blue Arrangement. It was not the members' choice but Andrew judged it just had the edge. Thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to the winners.
Class 1 - 3 stems Roses Jennifer Matthews
Class 2 - 10 stems of Sweet Peas Monica Davis
Class 3 - 4 stems Carnations Pam Beedham
Class 4 - 5 stems of other flowers Pam Beedham
Class 5 - Pam's small arrangement Myra Wilkinson
Class 6 - Vase red white & blue flos Betty Sunley
The Best in Show Dennis Archer Cup Liz Watson