Horticulture society celebrates 80th spring show

Margaret Tate, chairman of the society, said: "This has been an excellent year. We had 185 entrants for last year's show, and this time we've had 210 '“ we're well up."

On Saturday, April 4, the hall of Bexhill High School, Down Road, was packed with entries of floral art, handicraft, photography and homemade cooking.

The children's classes included painting and collage.

Each class had a theme, with entrants finding inspiration from titles like, "First Sign of Spring" and "80th Celebration".

Margaret said: "As my last year as chairman I'm really delighted at the way this spring show has gone, and I look forward to a successful autumn event."

Nichollas Hollingsworth, president of the society, said: "I'm very happy we've reached 80 years of experience. We now have nearly 500 members."

Cllr Stuart Wood also attended.

Next event in the horticultural diary is a Jazz and Open Garden Picnic Day at Southings Manor, Westfield, on June 14.

Tickets 10 for members, non-members 15.

For more information contact Robin Reilly, the membership secretary, on 210770.

The winners of each category are listed below:

Division One - Floral Arrangement Classes Open To All

Class 1 - An Easter Bonnet: Kay Hyde

Class 2 - First Signs of Spring : Phyl McEwan

Class 3 - Castaway: C Breeds

Class 4 - Oranges and Lemons: Linda Brunton

Class 5 - 80th Celebration: S Smallwood

Class 6 - A Floral Mosaic: Phyl McEwan

Class 7 - A Pillbox: Ann Davis

Division Two

Class 8 - Three Vases Narcissi: Brian Croft

Class 9 - Three Trumpet Narcissi: Brian Croft

Class 10 - One Trumpet Narcissus: Mrs S Smallwood

Class 11 - Three Large Cupped Narcissi: Mr B Croft

Class 12 - One Large Cupped Narcissus: Mr B Croft

Class 13 - Three Small Cupped Narcissi: Mr S Wood

Class 14 - One Small Cupped Narcissus: -

Class 15 - Three Double Narcissi: Mr B Croft

Class 16 - One Double Narcissus: Mr P Stafford

Class 17 - Three Tazetta Narcissi: Mrs C Tolkein

Class 18 - One Tazetta Narcissus: Mrs C Tolkein

Class 19 - Three Poeticus Narcissi: Mr B Croft

Class 20 - One Poeticus Narcissus: -

Class 21 - Three Narcissi: Mr B Croft

Class 22 - Reg Wells Challenge Class: Mr B Croft

Class 23 - Three Tulip Blooms: Mr B Croft

Class 24 - Three Single Tulip Blooms: Mr B Croft

Class 25 - One Pot or Bowl Hyacinths: Mrs R Coleman

Class 26 - One Pot Hyacinths (One Bulb): Mrs R Coleman

Class 27 - 5 Pansies Shown On A Board: Mrs S Stafford

Class 28 - Bowl of Primroses: Mrs S Stafford

Class 29 - Five Stems Polyanthus: Mrs R Gregory

Class 30 - One Vase of Mixed Spring Flowers: Mrs E Damen

Class 31 - Five Spikes Wallflowers and or Cheiranthus: -

Class 32 - Vase of Mixed Flowering Shrubs: Mrs C Tolkein

Class 33 - Foliage Pot Plant: Mr B Croft

Class 34 - Flowering Pot Plant: Mrs J Collett

Class 35 - Two Pots of Cacti: B Ford

Class 36 - Pot or Bowl Narcissus: -

Class 37 - Pot Bulbs in Flower: Mrs S Smallwood

Class 38 - Entry For 1st Time Exhibitor Vase of Spring Flowers: Ms J Baker

Class 39 - A Primula Suitable for a Rock Garden or Alpine House: -

Class 40 - A Saxifraga Suitable for a Rock Garden or Alpine House: -

Class 41 - A Bulbous Plant Suitable for a Rock Garden or Alpine House: -

The D E Marchant Cup: Mr B Croft

Barry's Hardware Trophy: Mrs C Tolkein.

Division 3 - Domestic Open To All

Class 42 - Simnel Cake: Ruth Gregory

Class 43 - Fruit Loaf: Cynthia Tolkein

Class 44 - A Jar of Lemon Curd: Ellen Damen

Class 45 - Chocolate Swiss Roll: Brian Croft

Class 46 - 5 Eccles Cakes: Ellen Damen

Class 47 - Savoury Quiche: Mrs S Vance

Class 48 - Jar of Sweet Mustard Pickle: -

The Dora Lovejoy Cup: Ellen Damen

Division 4 - Children's Classes Up To Age 12

Class 49 - A Painting of a Flower: Toby Bula-Edge

Class 50 - A Collage: Amber Okines

Class 51 - A Decorated Flower Pot: Amber Okines

Class 52 - An Easter Card: Penny Diver

Best Exhibit In Division: Amber Okines

Division 5 - Handicraft Open To All

Class 55 - An Easter Card: Sheila Dyke

Class 56 - A Watercolour Painting: Sheila Dyke

Class 57 - A Decorated Box: Sheila Dyke

Class 58 - Patchwork Cushion Cover: Linda Brunton

Class 59 - An Article of Handicraft Other Than In Classes 55-58: Sylvia Vance

Division 6 - Amateur Photography

Class 60 - Anniversary: Mrs Godbolt

Class 61 - Morning Mist: Sheila Dyke

Class 62 - Roof Tops: Rudge Whitworth

Class 63 - First Signs of Spring: Jill Baker

The Pat Thompson Memorial Cup: Rudge Whitworth