Thousands of people flocked to Wem for a special horticultural show.
The Wem Sweet Pea Show marked the anniversary of hybridist Henry Eckford, who developed the sweet pea while living in Wem. The event took place at the Thomas Adams School in Wem on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19.
The atrocious weather at the weekend did nothing to dampen the atmosphere at the 21st celebration show and the National Late Show in Wem at the weekend. The societies welcomed many, many visitors on Saturday and the stalls and demonstrations were kept extremely busy.
The list of winners:
Tom Cordy award, Leweston Trophy, Terry Sewell Prize, John Robson, Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway; The Wellington Rotary Club, AA Hubbuck, Chesterfield; The Hinchcliffe Trophy & the Tom Shilling prize, Lynn Silvester, Fauls Green, Whitchurch; KE Andrews Trophy, P T Davey, Carnforth; Division V Trophy, John Cooper, Penn; Division VI Trophy, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire.
Special Classes:
John Good Memorial Class: Graeme and Chrissie Hollingdale, Buckinghamshire; EW King, AA Hubbuck, Chesterfield.
Unwin Class: John Cooper, Penn.
Kerton Class: AA Hubbuck, Frances Williams Memorial, R F Newbery, Bristol.
New Forest Class: John Robson.
Unwin Trophy: CB Chislett, Shrewsbury.
Tom Baines Class: Angie Gillespie, Burton-on-Trent.
AGM Vase and Yorkshire Bowl: CB Chislett.
Wem Special Classes:
President’s Plate: Graeme & Chrissie Hollingsworth.
The Bernard Jones: Frank Walton, Bishop Auckland.
The Mike Jones Memorial: RF Newberry.
The Elizabeth Bodger Memorial: Phillippa Cooper, Penn.
The Albert E Bennett: G & C Hollingdale.
Division 1: 15 stems per vase, The Roger Parsons Challenge, 12 vases, John Robson.
The Eastbourne Class: 9 vases, Ian and Darren Myers, Wakefield.
The Tom Jones: 6 vases, GF Hazell, Bristol.
The Matthewman Class: 3 vases, AA Hubbuck.
Single vases: Fancy, Pink, Mixed, Andy Hubbuck; Cream, Red, Mauve, Orange, John Robson; Magenta, I & D Myers; Blue, Picotee, A Hodgson, Darlington.
Division 2: Seedling class, 15 stems, White, Andy Hubbuck.
Division 3: 400 plants, 12 stems.
Mixed Bowl: Neil Cooper, Whixall.
Single vases: Orange, Magenta, Mauve, Mixed, Lynn Silvester.
Division 4: 200 plants, 9 stems.
Town & Cinque Ports, 6 vases, R Rishworth, Filey; 3 Vases, P T Davey, Carnforth.
Singles White, Mauve, Orange, Mixed, PT Davey; Magenta, Pink, Frank Walton.
Division 5: 150 plants, 7 stems.
Single vases: White, Red, Magenta, Pink, Orange, Mixed, John Cooper; Mauve, Karen Good, Prees Green.
Division 6: 100 plants, 7 stems.
Three Vase, 1 vase any colour, 1 vase mixed, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth.
Mixed Bowl, P Hargreaves, Guiseley.
Division 7: David Archer Perpetual Trophy, Lathyrus species, Annual and Perennial, Grand and Semi Grand, C & G Hollingdale.
Division 8: Old Fashioned varieties, Henry Eckford Bowl, C & G Hollingdale.
12 stems, Five vases, Frank Walton.
Three Vases, G & C Hollingdale.
Single classes: Name of Eckford, Frank Walton; Lavender, Maurice Garlick, Holm; Pink, Any other colour, Mixed, C & G Hollingdale; Strength of Perfume, Neil Cooper.
Wem Section:
Novice Classes: Bowl of Mixed 18 stems and vase of 7 stems, Jill Nutt (Silvester), Oxford.
Children’s Section:
TO Smalley Cup for best exhibit, Dizzy Ward, Wem.
Up to seven colour a picture, Dizzy Ward, Wem.
Up to eleven, Decorated Stone, Georgina Nutt.
Floral Handmade Greetings Card, Georgina Nutt.
Up to 15, Posy of Sweet Peas, Georgina Nutt.
Floral Art:
Large Ribboned plate for Best Exhibit, Medium Ribboned plate for most points, Alice Lewis Memorial for Pedestal,
Hatchery Roberson for Best Exhibit, Perpetual Rose Bowl for bowl of sweet peas, Christine Lea, Steele Heath. Whitchurch.
The A & H Perpetual Challenge for 6 x 3 Display, Wyllis Turner, Tilley, Wem.
6 x 3, 21st Anniversary celebration, Wyllis Turner.
Life & work of Henry Eckford, Growing Hanging Basket, an arrangement using slate, Wyllis Turner.
Pedestal, Countries of the world, arrangement of 7 stems, Charles Darwin’s Bi-centenary, Bowl of sweet peas, Christine Lea.
An arrangement with wicker, Ruth Payne. Wem.
External classes: Florist, Season’s Shops. Relate and Severn Hospice.