Description:Pictured at the Stafford Borough's Annual Horticultural Show are, seated left, Mr E W Vaughan, Show Secretary and right is the Mayor of Stafford Alderman C E Fowke. On the back row left is Mr R W Elliott and third from left is Mr E Walpole who were judges. Please contact us if you recognise anyone else in the photograph.
A steady stream of visitors saw the fine exhibition of vegetables and flowers which was staged in the Shire Hall on the afternoon of Friday 29 and Saturday 30 August by the Stafford Borough Horticultural Committee. This popular event was open to members of the local allotments associations. The exhibition was opened on Friday afternoon by the Mayor, Alderman C E Fowke, who said that smaller shows such as that, should be given every encouragement. None of the produce had been specially grown for the show. He said there was no doubt that this particular exhibition got better each year. If it increased the way it had it would have to be held in the Borough Hall in the future. He added that it was a real credit o the Borough Horticultural Committee.
The exhibitor gaining the highest number of points was Mr G Astles, whose total was 21 including five first placings and three seconds. This year (1952) the Joynes Perpetual Challenge Cup, awarded to the local Allotments Association whose members received the highest aggregate of points in the vegetable section, was won by the Rising Brook Association, who had a total of 30 points. Last year’s winners, Littleworth, were second with 23 and Castle Fields third with 21. Rickerscote gained 16 points, Coton Fields 13 and Holmcroft 11. Three diplomas were awarded by the judges. For coloured potatoes, one diploma was given to Mr J A Collier, Mr G Astles received another for his collection of vegetables and Mr A Betteley the third for his chrysanthemums. Mr Betteley was also awarded the shields voucher for the highest number of points in the floral section.
The show was judged by Mr E Walpole, a member of Stafford Borough Horticultural Committee, and Mr R Elliott, head gardener at Standon Orthopaedic Hospital. They had the task of picking out the best of 400 entries. A feature of the exhibition was the number of trade displays by local tradesmen. In addition, an attractive bank of flowers arranged by the staff of Victoria Park, was much admired, as was that of the Stafford branch of the National Cacti and Succulent Society. A display of fruit was contributed by Alderman H J Bostock, and an aquatic display by Mr F H Darrall of Brunswick Terrace.
The above is an extract from an article published in the Staffordshire Newsletter on Saturday 6 September 1952. Reproduced by kind permission of the Staffordshire Newsletter who retain copyright.