2023 Show Report
47th LMHS ANNUAL FLOWER & VEGETABLE SHOW
Dedicated to Keith Powell & Sylvia Geary
Reported by Tim Prior, Show Secretary
As I start to write this report for the show I cannot help to look back over the months before it was staged and think 'all the work was worth it, we had a great show'. But it was not just my effort, it was everyone who helped, you know who you are and you have my sincere thanks. Also, my thanks for the weather, it held pretty well after a ghastly few days
beforehand!
On the Friday before a few of us set the show tables and morphed the stage into the central display area, running the length of the hall. With all the covers on and class labels out it did look impressive. The show officials duly arrived early Saturday morning and after a short brief were able to stage their own exhibits and then wait to help the other exhibitors. It was busy, and you got the feeling that it was going to be good.
By 10.45am, 40 exhibitors had displayed 251 items of vegetables, fruits, cut flowers, floral displays, cakes, jams, chutneys and some exhibits from the children. Really very good to see a lot of folk exhibiting for the first time, and your efforts were appreciated so please don't stop.
Very pleased to say that our judges Dennis Barry, Keith Sweetzer and Jayne Thomas were kept fairly busy for more than an hour. Then our lovely Elizabeth Rees arrived with a very satisfying buffet - wonderful and thank you too.
The doors opened at 2.00pm, so in you go and immediately on the right were the vegetable tables or you could go straight in and get a tea from Pat and Ros - what a busy day you had ladies! Back to the veg and there was a lot of it, 29 classes and only one not entered; the humble cauliflower. One day I am sure we will get the full 29.
Nearly all these classes had multiple entries, six pairs of cucumbers, countless plates of small and other tomatoes, a brace of cabbage, onions of all sizes, very good dwarf and runner beans and 3 plates of shallots that we have not had in the show for quite some time. There were leeks, lettuces and beetroots, collections of 6 different vegetable, even one of salad vegetables and hiding away in the any other veg section was the biggest bulb of garlic that I had ever seen - well done to you Chris Burford.
In fact well done to all the vegetable exhibitors, being one myself I know how you may have fretted to get items to the tables. There was a very nice selection of soft fruits and apples, we also had a melon, grown on the allotment by Mike Sherritt - nice to see something different.
Heaviest marrow and longest runner beans were well represented with the longest bean was just over 20 inches, but I do not think it would have eaten very well! A good turn out by our novices with their vegetables just so very few entries in the novice classes for flowers.
Section 5 floral arrangements was fairly light on entries, understandably as they can be pretty big and expensive (may have to have a think about these for next year!) But, there were some beautiful baskets of fresh garden flowers and some very dainty buttonholes. Jannice Simmonite and Sylvia Comben both entered the Top vase - you worked so hard on these ladies, well done.
Now lets walk along section 2, flowers and plant pots. We had some miniature sunflowers, resplendent in their majesty. Oh, the Dahlias all different shapes and sizes, single petalled Collarette's, Decoratives, Cactus and Pom Pom's. Just so colourful. Next were some roses and then the Gladioli (yes we actually had a few entries of these) - quite obvious that our careful growers had gathered them in before the previous days weather. Last year it was a different story! Same with the Sweet Peas and Carnations, they all looked very healthy.
Next on the tables were Fuchsia's, Cacti, Succulents and foliage plants and amongst this fine selection from our homes was the 'Best in Show'. Congratulations to Julie James, amazing what you can achieve with your only entry! Certainly caught the judges attention. You all added a lot of colour to the show and this too I am sure was appreciated by our visitors.
Now, I am going to mention our young exhibitors, Enid Holford, Sophie Featherstone and Eden Rudd who all stood up to be judged with pictures, a miniature garden and displays of garden flowers and mixed foliage. Thank you for your wonderful efforts and I hope you liked the rosettes and certificates.
Now, lastly we have a look at the 'Home Produce' or cake, booze and preserves! It was a well laid out table and one I know that caused a moment or two. When one of Tim Fowlers 'Fowl Brews' was opened it veritably exploded, the stone top nearly injuring our judge Jayne and sending Jarrod a steward into a frenzy....he can move very quickly when required to!!
This apart, there were some fine boiled fruit cakes, Victoria sponges, Lemon drizzle cakes, scones and Welsh cakes. Shame they have to be judged as they all looked marvelous. As mentioned there were alcohols present with an outright winner of a Blackberry gin. Must not forget the preserves, tasteful jams and chutneys, only thing missing would have been the cheese, and what a fine picnic this would have made. We congratulate Sylvia Comben who was our overall winner of section 7 and also the gentlemen who won a first in the cake baking, Albert Payne and Tim Prior.
Need a cuppa so back to Pat and Ros who are still busy! The show is coming to an end now and it is time to present the 28 prizes and this is where Chairperson Bill Lee gets involved....and gets his picture taken 28 times as well!
I will mention the main winners and you can view the below.
Best exhibit in the show was awarded to Julie James (Cacti).
Best vegetable exhibit awarded to Tim Prior (5 onions under 250g).
Exhibitor with most points in the show and winner of the RHS Banksian medal, Albert Payne, who also had the most points for flowers and pot plants.
Exhibitor with the most entries, Chris Burford.
To all of you who received a cup or other trophy, well done. But also well done to everyone who stood up to be counted by entering, without you all there would be no show and nothing for our visitors to enjoy.
Lastly we had our raffle draw and this raised £190 - very good. Most of the prizes are donated by businesses locally and nationally and I can assure you it takes some time to collect. The society would like to thank the following for their support: Waitrose & Partners Cowbridge, Spear & Jacksons, The Co-Operative group, Forage, Penllyn Estate farm, Hozelock UK Ltd, Bloms Bulbs, Glyndwr Vineyard, Dunelm, Waterstones, Filco Foods and LMHS members.
Last few thanks, and these are for our judges: Dennis Barry, Keith Sweetzer and Jayne Thomas who have all kindly agreed to judge next year. Last but not least matt Fallows, he is the tall guy with the camera, and was happily clicking away all afternoon! If any of the cup and trophy winners would like prints he will mount them for you at a small cost. Please let us know (email llantwitmajorhortsoc@gmail.com or telephone Tim on the number below) and it will be arranged
On behalf of the committee, members and visitors, we would also like to thank Tim for his hard work over the past year in organising such a fantastic show yet again and we look forward to what will undoubtedly be even bigger and better in 2024.
All images courtesy of Matt Fallows.
Click here to read full list of placements and Trophy Winners
