East Woodhay Flower Show impresses despite dry conditions

The annual East Woodhay Flower Show showcased the best flowers and vegetables North Hampshire has to offer when it was held in the village two weeks ago.

Taking place in the village hall on Saturday, August 20, the show had a good turnout and contestants managed to submit some great entries despite the recent dry weather conditions.

The show, which dates back to the 19th century, was officially opened by Lord and Lady Hamilton, who moved to East Woodhay around four years ago.

June Powell, who chairs the East Woodhay Flower Show, said it was a pleasant day and that the Hamiltons seemed to enjoy themselves.

“They looked around a lot and said how clever people were to get things to grow, especially with the weather as it had been,” she said.

This year’s youngest competitor was Grace Collins who was 18 months old, and the oldest was Les Barber, who is 95 years old and has entered the competition since he was eight.

Mrs Powell said: “We wanted to encourage people that you can be any age to enter the flower show.”

The main cup winners at this year’s show were Charlie Sheppard, who won the Hays Challenge Cup and the Arthur Curnick Cup, Les Wallace, who won the John Partridge Memorial Cup, the Ellen Webb Challenge Cup and the George Tilling Memorial Cup, and Jean Partridge, who won the Ladies Challenge Cup, an award she has won at every show for more than 25 years.

As well as the competition, the show also had craft stalls, plants to sell, refreshments available and a performance from the East Woodhay Silver Band.

All the profits made from the show are going towards the upkeep of the village hall.