Dedicated growers beat the dry spell in style

Despite a parched, hose pipe ban season, show secretary Chris Bryen was looking at a hall packed with produce and floral colour.

If growers have had a tough year, it was well disguised at Bexhill and District Gardens and Allotments Society's annual show on Wednesday.

Visitors to Bexhill Leisure Centre saw a total of 408 entries - only 26 down on last year's record.

Chris said: "Given the hose pipe ban and the drought conditions throughout the South East over the last year, all the exhibitors have done extremely well to grow anything at all.

"So many gardens and allotments are parched and without the long, hard, dedicated work of the Bexhill gardeners and allotment-holders, they would have little to show for their labours.

"It is a credit to them that they have managed to grow what they have - and to such a consistently high standard.

"Without such dedication we wouldn't have had a show at all.

"The number of entries is down this year compared with last year's, which was particularly high.

"Indeed, the trend last year while the trend was reduced entries, this society increased its entries.

"However, a number of exhibitors have been unable to produce anything like their normal exhibits and in some cases have been unable to show at all."

But the show secretary added: "An encouraging sign is that a number of new exhibitors are showing this year.

"A lot of hard work has been put into the show by the officers of the society, the committee and the stewards over the last few months and today has been a particularly long day - but the rewards are clearly apparent in the number of members of the society and the public who have turned up to give the society their usual support."

Not only had entrants had a great time looking after the vegetables, fruit, flowers, flower arrangements, pot plants, jams and cakes, but they'd had fun supporting the raffle, purchasing jams and cakes and playing name-the-owl.

He thanked supporters, including programme advertisers and show sponsors Rambler Coaches and Warburtons.

He congratulated entrants in the children's section.

"The society consistently attracts large numbers of entries in the children's classes, which hopefully will lead to continued participation in the show in the years to come."

Judges were: Domestic: Carol Sanders, Mrs Downey and Joan Moss.; vegetables, Frances Brown and Basil Collins; flowers, Ken Waller and Doug March; flower arrangements, Sybil Shanahan; handicrafts, Thelma Nance (adults and children); photography, John Larkin.

All the class winners

Best tray, Gold, John Pitman; Silver, John Day; Best vase, Gold, Ivan Luck; Silver, John Pitman; President's Cup: Domestic, Brian Croft; Vegetable Section, John Pitman; Flower Section, Brian Croft; Handicraft, Gwen Goodwin; Peskett Memorial Cup, John Pitman; J.W. Davis Cup, John Heasman; K. Young Cup, John Pitman; S. Marshall Cup, Malcolm Moss; D. Strevens Cup, John Day; R. Gunner Cup, John Pitman; J. Alexander Cup, John Pitman; W.G. Sansom Cup, John Heasman; Woodworkers's Cup, John Day; S. Sharp Cup, John Bentley; Tunbridge Cup, Gloria and Albert Bignell; Stanbridge Cup, Brian Croft; Domestic Trophy, Brian Croft; M. Fuller Cup, Gwen Goodwin; C. Kenward Cup, Ivan Luck; D. Groves Flower Bowl, Diane Whitworth; Society's Cup, John Pitman; Pat Bailey Cup, Brian Croft.

Children's Cups:

S. Howe Cup, Eva Wallis; G. Crisp Cup, Rhys Brockhurst; D. Lancaster Cup, Abbie Ballard and Joe Ballard; Certificate for Best Exhibit, Abbie Ballard.

Vegetables:

Class 1, J. Heasman; Class 2, J. Pitman; Class 3, M.J. Moss; Class 4, Mavis Meredith; Class 5, J. Pitman; Class 6, A. Bignell; Class 7, J. Stubberfield; Class 8, J.Heasman; Class 9, A. Bignell; Class 10, J. Pitman; Class 11, J. Heasman; Class 12, A. Bignell; Class 13, J. Pitman; Class 14, J. Day; Class 15, J. Pitman; Class 16, J. Pitman; Class 17, J. Pitman; Class 18, J. Heasman; Class 19, J. Pitman; Class 20, J. Pitman; Class 21, J. Day; Class 22, J. Bentley; Class 24, J. Pitman; Class 25, J. Pitman; Class 26, J. Day; Class 27, J. Heasman; Class 28, J. Heasman; Class 29, R. Reeve; Class 30, J. Day; Class 31, J. Cramp; Class 32, A. Bignell; Class 33, J. Pitman; Class 34, J. Pitman; Class 35, W. Alexander; Class 38, J. Bentley; Class 39, Mrs Shoesmith; Class 40, M. Meredith.

Handicraft:

Class 41, J. Norman; Class 42, G. Goodwin.

Photography:

Class 43a, R. Noble; Class 43b, J. Dowling.

Infants:

Class 44, Eva Wallis; Class 45, Eva Wallis; Class 46, Eva Wallis.

Juniors:

Class 47, Rhys Brockhurst; Class 48, Rhys Brockhurst; Class 49, Rhys Brockhurst; Class 50, Rhys Brockhurst; Class 51, Rhys Brockhurst.

Seniors:

Class 52, Joe Ballard; Class 53, Emma Brockhurst; Class 54, Emma Bignell; Class 55, Emma Bignell; Class 56,

Abbie Ballard.

Domestic:

Class 60, M. Meredith; Class 61, M. Meredith; Class 62, M Meredith; Class 63, B. Croft; Class 64, G. Goodwin; Class 65, B. Croft; Class 66, B. Croft; Clas 67, J. Brockhurst; Class 68, P. Cramp; Class 69, L. Brunton; Class 70, L. Brunton; Class 71, B. Croft; Class 72, M. Elphick; Class 73, G. Goodwin; Class 74, G. Goodwin; Class 75, B. Croft; Class 76, D. Ballard.

Flowers:

Class 80, A. Bignell; class 81, E.M. Holland; Class 82, M.J. Moss; Class 83, G. Bignell; Class 84, B. Croft; Class 85, J. Pitman; Class 86, J. Pilbeam; Class 87, I. Luck; Class 88, J. Pitman; Class 89, J. Pitman; Class 90, J. Pitman; Class 91, D. Whitworth; Class 92, D. Binns; Class 93, D.Whitworth; Class 94, E. M.Holland; Class 95, B. Croft; Class 96, J. Norman; Class 97, D. Whitworth; Class 98, L. Fuller; Class 99. S.Munn.