Blog: Glorious weather caps Shrewsbury Flower Show success
Chatting with former president and show stalwart Aubrey Kirkham about when there had last been two such glorious Flower Show days weather-wise, neither of us could actually remember. Which goes to show how long ago that must have been.
Chatting with former president and show stalwart Aubrey Kirkham about when there had last been two such glorious Flower Show days weather-wise, neither of us could actually remember. Which goes to show how long ago that must have been.
While Shropshire Society in London chairman David Tudor reckoned some were looking back to the great summer of 1976.
With the first day in particular a wall-to-wall sunshine dream, that could well be right. And given the weeks of relentless rain which have distinguished this summer, how very fortunate The Shropshire Horticultural Society must feel to have drawn such a super break in the gloom.
Final visitor figures will almost certainly reflect what a difference that golden glow can make!
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Certainly the odd glass of wine or half a pint of something nice went down well at the weekend. But for many one of the biggest draws for future liquid refreshment was down at Malachi Fitzpatricks, Britain’s last original Temperance Bar and still going strong at Rawtenstall in the heart of the lovely Rossendale valley in Lancashire.
It carries on the tradition of serving the most amazing cordials in the true style of the Fitzpatrick family and probably in the spirit of the Methodist cheese-maker in Preston who set about establishing a society under which a pledge was taken, never to drink alcohol.
Actually, as someone who doesn’t because it doesn’t like me very much, I’d say Malachi’s cordials are more than an excellent substitute!
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A former county Women’s Institute chairman Rosemary Hamilton was cock-a-hoop when she learned that she had won the WI’s Best in Show preserve for her institute, Shawbury. And as a result, collected the coveted Esme Morris Trophy.
But what goes around comes around because Rosemary had also donated her own Rosemary Hamilton Award which went to Best in Show Cookery Item.
She said: “It’s really exciting to have the awards which the WI does so well.”
And down in their riverside marquee, word is that they were all delighted at the response to this year’s Diamond Jubilee theme and the high standard reached.
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The 125th Flower Show may have come to an end but it’s hoped that the marvellous two days will now be a springboard.
A web-site critic chastised the show this week for not changing enough, only hoping for or expecting a mere 50,000 instead of the one- time 100,000 it could command and being stuck in a rut.
What a cheek. It is the world’s longest running show and when you think of how it’s been sustained for so long by really a relatively small group of local people, I think it’s quite amazing.
And whatever the sour-tongued might say, a good part of its appeal is simply that year after year in that wonderful, natural setting, it produces a fantastic show which includes top entertainment and attractions as well as the flora and fauna with which it began.
The show has indeed moved with the times but also been clever enough to know what visitors want to see preserved.
Well done, everybody, long may Shrewsbury Flower Show continue and roll on next year!
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