Summer Sow 11.8.18

The adverse growing season inevitably lead to a smaller number of entries than in an average year. However, just over 400 items were submitted for exhibition by 49 participants, of whom several were making their first appearance at a Yapton show.
However, the disappointment of fewer than usual number of exhibits was transformed into pleasure by the excellence of the produce; the other sections included the well supported cookery classes, flower arranging, a varied handicraft submission, photography, wine and beer and children’s classes.

The flower show was part of the community event, now in its second year: thus, a `fun’ dog show attracted many people, complemented by a junior dance school presentation and musical entertainment from a ukulele group. More features included classic vehicles brought by Double L-L Club members, and three veteran agricultural tractors, two as static exhibits much enjoyed by children and the third plying trailer rides up and down the field. Trading stalls and good causes formed a further part, while the Village Hall held separate model displays and the Local History Group had a photographic display on the story of Ford airfield and a slide show of Yapton over the years. The kitchen did great business in dispensing tea, coffee and cake.

The afternoon was drawn to a close by the presentation of awards on behalf of the flower show. In her capacity as President of Yapton Cottage Gardeners’ Society, Sue Phillips, gardening journalist, made the distributions of trophies. Mick Minton produced the best vegetable exhibit for the Warmere with potatoes, and first prizes for runner beans, the Charles Millyard Trophy, and with the collection of vegetables, the V.H. Snell Trophy, and garnered most points for the George Harrison Cup, only to continue with the Woodard Trophy for the best cut flower exhibit comprising Waterlily dahlias, which also gave him the Silver Medal of the National Dahlia Society, and the Booth Cup for most points in the Open classes, and culminating in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Banksian Medal for accumulating most prize money.

Alan Humphrey brought his excellent dahlias; his vase of Ball Group won the Stevenson Cup as best cut flower exhibit in the members’ classes, and took the Bronze Medal, National Dahlia Society, with a vase of Decoratives. Noted grower Malcolm Paradine produced some fine potatoes for the Binns Trophy in the Open vegetable classes. Show Secretary, David Donovan, took the Tony Butcher Trophy for best pot plant and did well enough with what little fruit was shown to retain the Ivor Smith Fruit Bowl and amassed sufficient points to take the Collier Cup for cookery exhibits. Elaine Cordingley won the three exhibit members-only Leslie Crowther Trophy while her spouse, David Cordingley, succeeded in winning the Ford Wine Circle Challenge Shield with his bottles of wine and beer. Katharine Horwood was awarded the Pannell Trophy for most points in the flower arranging classes, and for his remarkable evocation of farming life in the 1930’s, David Day will have his name added to the Stagg Cup, as best item in the Handicraft section. Ten-year-old Cerys Hier took all the trophies for which she was eligible in the Children’s classes, viz the Frost Senior Cup for a garden in a seed-tray, best exhibit for the Margaret Trophy with a model elephant made from vegetables and most points in this section for the Belmont Trophy. The Frost Junior Cup was won by six-year-old Alice Wright and her three-year-old sister, Lucy Wright, given equal first in the `garden in a seed tray’ class.

Early summer show 23.6.18

Over 90 people came along to enjoy a beautiful display of flowers, produce and crafts, as well as Terry's famous cream teas! The weather had made growing a challenge, especially for the sweet-pea specialists, so horticultural entries were down a little, but visitors were still treated to a hall full of colour and scent. The flower arranging section had some excellent exhibits and the cookery classes had good support, with some delicious looking fruit cakes and cupcakes. Stella Whitelock, our Vice-President presented the trophies: Jenny Pay won the Godfrey Challenge Cup for her roses; Richard Emery took the Hawthorn Trophy for sweet peas while Terry Booker won the National Sweet Pea Society Bronze Medal. The Bill Payne Memorial Trophy for cactuses was won by Mike Shambrook and the Phillips Trophy for the best flower arrangement was won by Diane Booker for her football themed exhibit entitled "On the ball". Nine year old Cerys Hiertook home the Junior Flower Cup.

FIRST PRIZE WINNERS: Kath Hemsley, Ted Love, Diane Booker, Jenny Pay, Mike Shambrook, Mary Carmel Pardi, Richard Emery, Terry Booker,Anne Hollis, John Smith, David Donovan, Malcolm Paradine, Graham and Sylvia Ebben, Irene Jordan, Eva Pendreich, Katharine Horwood, Margaret Elkin, Alan Thew, Ian Watts, John Knight, Cerys Hier

Spring Show 24.3.18

Our Spring show was not the usual floriferous event, as a direct result of the cold, and sometimes snow-affected, start to the season. However, all was not lost as 32 exhibitors did their best to ensure some semblance of a competition. So we had daffodils in most classes but less cut flowers, pot plants and vegetables than normal. The floral art had only two competitors but the excellence of the exhibits ensured that they were equally successful. The cookery classes were well supported, with 10 ginger cake entries, and the handicrafts displayed an attractive and varied set of items. The photography section provided visitors wth the opportunity to discuss the relative merits of the images! Three children made and staged exhibits.

The side-stalls included plants, baked goods and preserves, jewellery, greetings cards, a raffle and a tombola. while the kitchen had excellent business supplying tea and cake. The number of visitors, around 70, was just enough to make the show financially viable but your society really needs more support from its members at its events.

Vice-President Stella Whitelock presents the awards: teh Harry March cup for most points in horticultural classes to David Donovan, who also took the Pratt Trophy for most points in cooking. The Junior Spring cup was awarded to Cerys Hier.

FIRST PRIZE WINNERS : Mike Shambrook, Roy Phillips, Terry Booker, Eva Pendreich, David Donovan, Carmel Pardi, Jenny Pay, Elaine Cordingley, Anne Hollis, Diane Booker, Malcolm Paradine, Graham Coomber, Katharine Horwood, Mike MIllis, Ian Watts, Alan Thew, Julia Smith, John Knight, Ted Coomber, Cerys HIer.

Autumn Show 7.10.17

A fine end to the season of showing : slightly larger than the equivalent show last year, this year 43 participants submitted 271 entries. Upon entering the Village Hall, the eye was drawn immediately to the vases of dahlias and chrysanthemums an then to late flowers, fuchsia florets and some splendid pot plants. Among the vegetables, the array of tomatoes and onions demonstrated the skills required for display; leeks were excellent and the `any other vegetable’ class was interesting with squashes, calabrese, aubergines and winter radish. There were some splendid apples and pears, and the range of novelties included large sunflower heads, massive marrows and a huge potato.

The cookery classes were well supported, with excellent quality exhibits featuring preserves, Dundee cakes and gingerbread; as in all recent shows, the Photographic Section had numerous entries, and there were classes for flower arrangements, handicrafts and children’s items.

About 70 visitors came to enjoy the display, and the side-stalls offering plants, cakes, preserves and loaves, greeting cards and a raffle and tombola.

Vice-President Stella Whitelock presented the awards : Malcolm Paradine won the Edith Godfrey Trophy; just a whisker behind was Barry Moore, who introduced a set of sweet peppers for the Deegan Shield, the best vegetable exhibit.  Alan Humphrey took both Silver and Bronze Medals of the National Dahlia Society. Kent Kressner  retained the Peter Crouch Memorial for hischrysanthemums.  Eva Pendreich shared the Joan Waddington Memorial Vase with Ted Love for points in the fuchsia classes, and won the season-long Photography Championship and the Neil Baxter Memorial Trophy for Cookery and Handicrafts. The Show Secretary, David Donovan, retained the Fruit Bowl, based on the season’s results, and gained the Village Criers Trophy for most points across the horticultural classes for the year. Diane Booker took home the W.R. Trophy as the most successful flower arranger of the season. Ned Slowly, aged six, and four-year-old Ted Coomber shared the Junior Autumn Cup, while Cerys Hier, aged eight, accepted the Junior Village Criers Trophy for her prizes over the season.

FIRST PRIZE WINNERS: Mike Shambrook, Jenny Pay, Mary Carmel Pardi, Irene Jordan, Ted Love, Anne Hollis, Eva Pendreich, Alan Humphrey, Kent Kressner, Malcolm Paradine, Mark Wilson, Barry Moore, Graham Coomber, Roy Phillips, Den Jordan, David Donovan, Annabelle Heath, Jo Gold, Alan Thew, Diane Booker, Derek Jukes, Elaine Cordingley, Ian Watts, John Knight, Ted Coombert, Ned Slowly.