The crowds flocked to Bristol Flower Show’s first day to enjoy an action-packed fun spectacular.
Highlights included the magnificent Floral Marquee bursting with spectacular displays and featuring over 60 top growers from across the country.
Nearly 20,000 people poured through the gates for what was the 61st Show – this year organised jointly this year by the Bath & West Trading Company and Bristol City Council. The show was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Peter Abraham who said “We have one of the best flower shows in the country here.”
Standards were high and exhibitors included Mendip Bonsai from Shepton Mallet who have already scooped a Gold Medal at Chelsea and the RHS Best in Show at Tatton. Owner John Trott was delighted to make it a hat trick at Bristol with a Large Gold Medal.
And Stewart Lockyer (80), of C S Fuchsias at Coalpit Heath won the Best in Show award with his spectacular display in the Floral Marquee with his fuchsia waterfall. His son worked throughout the night to get it ready. Said Stewart:”This is the fifth time we have won best in Show – we intendned to get Best in show and that’s what we did. The judges said it was very high in the Wo factor! I think it was about the best display of fuchsias we have ever done!”
Mervyn Jacobs from Pilning, Bristol scooped five trophies including the Bristol Evening Post trophy for the best exhibit in the horticultural section of the Show. he had ten first prizes and two second prizes with his dazzling dahlias. 2I am very proud indeed – I was lucky they all came out just right on the day!. I’ve been coming here 20 years and it is a very nice, friendly and well organised show.”
There were chances to win a host of super prizes from a brand new car worth £8,000 in the St Peter’s Hospice Draw. The car was kindly donated by Williams Automobiles at Brislington. Commercial residential and agricultural property agents Knight, Frank LLP who sponsored the programme and tickets ran a draw to raise money for the hospice too.
And visitors could also win a unique furnace pot in a Grand Draw organised by Bristol Blue Glass who donated some of their beautiful glassware as prizes. The winner was Mrs Pat Davie, of Horfield, Bristol.
The Bristol Evening Post Trophy for the Best Exhibitor in the Show went to Mervyn Jacobs from Pilning, Bristol, for the most points in the cactus and pot plant sections.
A Bristol Blue Glass trophy for the best exhibit in the vegetable section went to Harry Godden of Doulting, Shepton Mallet for his celebrated celery.
The Bristol City Garden Challenge Competition was won by 79 year old Cynthia Burridge, of Stoke Bishop, Bristol, whose photos of her delightful garden delighted the judges. She was presented with the Bristol City Garden Challenge Trophy by Mrs Sally Burke, widow of the late John Burke, one of the city’s leading businessmen who died tragically last year.
Runners-up were Mr Arthur Ridler (83) of Silverhill Road, Henbury, and Mrs Audrey Smith (whose work was entered by her proud husband John without her knowing) of Collinswood Avenue, Kingswood.
Entertainment included Bristol Morris Men dancing, a Saxophone Quartet, Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends, a display by Avon Fire Rescue and plenty of action for dog lovers with the Canine Capers and their dancing antics with their four footed friends, agility and tricks from Frome Dog Club, while John Hough and his dog team from Street entertained the crowds with tricks in time for music.
There was plenty to keep youngsters busy too, from badge-making, face-painting and mask-making plus an interesting array of animals and insects from Bristol Zoo including a tarantula and giant snails and some hissing cockroaches. The Children’s Trail, an educational fun and fact-finding tour round the Show, proved a big hit with youngsters.
Winners in children’s competitions sponsored by Barts Spices were 11 year old Ruby Butcher from Fishponds for best creative writing; with her poem about spices, seven year old Ethan Gooding from Filton for the Under 8’s hand-writing section, and Alice Stockwell (10), from Stoke Gifford in the 8 -11 year old section for best hand-writing. Ethan unfortunately could not collect his prizes of “City Bristol Today in Poems and Pictures” and a book token form his school as he had his tonsils out that day – his grandfather David Trigger who notched up his own winning successes in the honey section, collected the prizes on his behalf.
There were a record 16 entries in the Ninth Allotment Fair. And David and Margaret Chappell from Newport, Wales, delighted the crowds with their display of 200 different species of potatoes in the Floral Marquee. The couple in fact grow 400 varieties on their three allotments and in their back garden. This was David’s last show as he has decided to give exhibiting a rest after 59 years.
Next month the 69 year old turns his hand to judging at the National Amateur Gardening Show at the Bath & West Showground at Shepton Mallet (Sept 2 – 4).
The Show was sponsored by Bristol Blue Glass, who donated some of their beautiful glassware as prizes, commercial residential and agricultural property agents Knight Frank LLP sponsored the programme and tickets, and Bristol-based Bart Spices Ltd who sponsored the children’s competitions at the Show. The Show was also supported by City Motors and S J Cook & Sons, Renault in Bristol and BBC Radio Bristol who broadcasted live from the event over all 3 days.
Administrator Paul Hooper thanked everyone who had helped the event such a success. “This was the first time we held an off-site event outside the Bath & West Showground so there were a lot of learning curves for us, but it has been a great success and we have had a wonderful attendance."