New venue fails to deter crowds at spring flower show

He said: “We had a terrific turn-out all round and not only were there plenty of entries, but standards were high. Of course, some competitors undoubtedly suffered from late frosts and recent rain, and daffodils took a bit of a battering in this respect.

“Yet overall I was delighted.

“Our move to Pebsham Community Centre as a venue since last autumn, brought about by the closure and demolition of the old High School where we used to stage our seasonal shows, clearly hasn’t deterred people from coming along to enjoy our events.”

With the spring show now over, the society is already setting its sights on its summer show, which will be held at Pebsham Community Centre on Saturday, September 3, with public viewing from 2pm and prize presentations at 4pm.

Mr Gregory said: “We hope growers and spectators alike will make that a firm entry in their diaries and once again come along to support us.”

Spring show trophy and first-prize winners were:

DIVISION ONE (Open floral arrangements)

Bailey Memorial Cup for highest points total, division one: Mrs P McEwen; Class 1, a host of golden daffodils: no winner; 2, A shady corner, Mrs P McEwen; 3,Spring greens, Mrs P McEwen; 4, Simplicity: Mrs P McEwen; 5, Sporting Scene: Mrs P McEwen; 6, Picture perfect: Mrs J Hattam; 7, Iced Gem, Mrs P McEwen.

DIVISION TWO (Open classes)

Jack Shields Trophy for highest points, classes eight to 21: I Luck; D E Marchant Cup, winner of class eight:I Luck; Barry’s Hardware Trophy, best exhibit classes 32-40: M Moss.

Class 8, three vases narcissi: I Luck; 9, three trumpet narcissi: B Croft; 10, trumpet narcissus, I Luck; 11, three large-cupped narcissi: Mrs C Tolkien; 12, large-cupped narcissus: M Moss; 13, three small-cupped narcissi, M Moss; 14, small-cupped narcissus,P Stafford; 15, three double narcissi: I Luck; 16, one double narcissus:I Luck; 17, three tazetta narcissi: I Luck; 18, tazetta narcissus: M Moss; 19, three poeticus narcissi: I Luck; 20, poeticus narcissus: I Luck; 21, three narcissi: M Moss; 22, bowl of hellebores: Miss E Docksey; 23, three tulip blooms: I Luck; 24, three single tulips: C Tolkien; 25, one pot or bowl hyacinths: no winner; 26, one pot hyacinths: B Croft; 27, pansies: Mrs R Gregory; 28, primroses: Miss H Moon; 29, polyanthus: Mrs D Houghton; 30, mixed spring flowers: Mrs C Tolkien; 31, wallflowers: no winner; 32, mixed flowering shrubs:Mrs J Sparkes; 33, foliage pot plant: M Moss; 34, flowering pot plant: Mrs D Houghton; 35, two pots of cacti: Mrs D Houghton; 36, narcissus: Mrs P Hawkes; 37, pot bulbs in flower: Mrs R Gregory; 38, first-time exhibitor spring flowers: Mrs J Sparks; 39, primula: no winner; 40, saxifraga: no winner; 41, bulbous plant: I Luck. .

DIVISION THREE (Open Domestic)

Dora Lovejoy Cup for most points in division three: Mrs C Tolkien .

Class 42, Dundee Cake: Mrs J Collett; 43, cheese straws: Mrs C Tolkien; 44, Easter biscuits: Mrs P Hawkes; 45, lemon curd:Miss H Moon; 46, chocolate chip muffins, B Croft; 47, Cornish pasty: Mrs C Tolkien; 48, fudge: Miss H Moon. .

DIVISION FOUR (Children’s classes)

Sylvester Cup for best exhibit: Harvey Ward

Age eight and under - Class 49, painted pebble: Jessica Davey; 50, wild flowers: Harvey Ward; 51, tree picture: Jessica Davey. Age nine to 14 - Class 52: decorated egg: R Watson; 53, Lego model: Kit Bula Edge; 54, spring flowers: Eleanor Docksey. .

DIVISION FIVE (Open handicrafts)

Bexhill Horticultural Society certificate of merit for best exhibit, classes 54 to 58: Miss H Moon.

Class 55, quilted item: Mrs J Sparkes; 56, wooden item: Mrs C Bula Edge; 57, rag doll or puppet: Miss H Moon; 58, Airfix model: A Hattam; 59, card craft item: no winner. .

DIVISION SIX (Amateur Photography)

Pat Thompson Memorial Cup for best exhibit: Mrs J Sparkes .

Class 60, wild flowers: Mrs T Jones; 61, reflections: Mrs P Reilly; 62, caught in the act: Mrs R Gregory; 63, the big freeze: Mrs J Sparkes. .