After a freezing Winter and a very wet March the committee was concerned that the hall would look very sparse for the Spring Show on Sunday April 2nd. How wrong we were! Wordsworth would have been enraptured by the host of golden daffodils, not to mention the rest of the dazzling displays that filled the tables. We had double the number of exhibitors of last year and wonderful feedback from everyone who came.  

Daffodils of every possible shape, size and colour were our most hotly contested classes with multiple exhibitors winning first prizes. We were especially delighted to be able to award the Eric Moss Challenge Cup for six individual blooms to Alison Bateson, whose late husband George planted many of the bulbs. 

Tulips were in short supply due to the weather, but Tess came up trumps with hers and covered most of the categories in one fell swoop. Multiple Mugs of Spring flowers looked so pretty on the back wall table, overflowing with colour and variety. Sally Basset pipped everyone else to the post with her exhibit. Tess won the flowering shrub class with a stunning branch of Magnolia stellata, and Alison Bateson’s Amaryllis triumphed as the best flowering pot plant.

Flower Art entries were on the themes of A Crown and Tulip Fever. With two magnificent winning displays, Tess was appropriately crowned and won the Floral Arts cup. She also won the Les Sparkhall cup for the most points over all the flower categories. Nice one Tess! 

The Junior entries were wonderfully creative on the themes of a Gingerbread Figure and Eggstravaganza. There was a tie for first place between Xanthe Cole and Massimo Pett so we decided to buy another trophy and award two this year. Congratulations to them both, and well done to all the other children who entered. A talented bunch!

Pat Quigg had her work cut out judging all the Domestic Class delicacies this year. Armed with her spoon, knife and glass of water she bravely ploughed through numerous jars of chutney and marmalade before tackling some beautifully plaited loaves, chocolate Brownies, sausage rolls and cakes. I am extremely proud to say that, despite some tough competition from Ann Allsworth and Clare Juniper, I won the Domestic Shield for the second time, proving to my incredulous husband, Angus, that last year was no fluke!

There are numerous people to thank. First and foremost, everyone who submitted an exhibit. Without you and your support there would be no show. It takes planning and effort to plant, nurture, pick, arrange, create, bake and boil your way to an entry so well done everyone who did, and thank you. Also, all those who came to view and bought raffle tickets to support our participants and our club. Sylvia and Rose spent hours grappling with entries and results, and our judges Peter Robertson, Judy Wortley and Pat Quigg did a tricky job superbly well. Tim Alps moved mountains of equipment and tables yet again, helped this year by John Justice, and Janet ran the raffle brilliantly despite recent knee surgery. Last but most definitely not least, your Aldbury Garden Club committee of Tess, Annie, Linda, Ted, Sue and Paula. It takes a massive team effort to stage the show, and despite this being the first ‘behind the scenes’ year for three of them it ran like clockwork. You are all superstars, thank you.

Rachael MacRae
AGC Chair