Roses recover at Rustington flower show

In a complete reversal of last year’s show, where they were few in number, roses easily outnumbered the sweet peas, which were badly affected by the wildly fluctuating temperatures and stormy weather of the fortnight beforehand.

Despite the conditions, said show secretary Alison Valentini, there was still a glorious array of colours and exhibits in all classes and the total number of entries was up on last year.

The photography classes proved popular again and, as always, the floral art gave a visual feast, while visitors enjoyed tea and home-made cakes in the John de Bohun room.

Mac MacCulloch was the day’s most successful exhibitor, with no fewer than six top awards. He received the Dave Sanders Memorial Cup for best sweet peas, the Eric Norrell Rose Cup for most rose points, the Glass Goblet for best horticultural exhibit, the National Sweet Pea Society bronze medal, for best vase of sweet peas and the Tom Lloyd Memorial Plate for best yellow rose.

Jayne Pumfrey was presented with the Rustington Horticultural Association Sweet Pea Cup for most points in the sweet pea classes.

Sylvia Hesling took the Glass Goblet for most points in the floral art classes, the J. F. Passmore Cup for best pot plant and a certificate for best floral art exhibit.

Other trophy/award winners: Julie MacCulloch, Wally Barnes Cup for most points in flowers, vegetable and fruit classes; Claudio Valentini, Glass Goblet for best photographic exhibit; Malcolm Paradine, certificate for most points in vegetable classes; David Donovan, certificate for most points in fruit classes; Bill Blake, certificate for best vegetable exhibit; Rohan Mills, Youth Cup for best young gardener; Fred Spanton, certificate for best exhibit in the small sweet pea grower classes.

Other first prize winners: Anne Adams, , G. Richards, Christine Fry, Joy Newman-Rice, Peter Russell, Florence Funnell, Eric Norrell, David Stubbings, Felicity Funnell, Carmel Pardi, Alison Valentini, Joyce Marshall, Mavis Potten, Mrs Newman.