SEVEN year old Josh Howard won a fistful of trophies at the Bere Ferrers Gardening club?s Autumn Show last weekend. Having proved he is top of the class he was presented with the prestigious Dr Shanks medal for most point in show by Kim Wild, his head teacher at Bere Alston CP School. Josh now holds the record for being the youngest competitor to win this medal in the show?s history, a remarkable achievement. The show had much to interest villagers and visitors alike. The judges commented on the high standards, particularly of the domestic and handicraft sections. The exhibitors had persevered throughout yet another difficult season. With a late cold spring followed by soaring temperatures and virtually no rain for two months they managed with effort and commitment to produce magnificent entries in most classes. Only entries in vegetable, floral art and children?s classes were down in numbers. Sue Venables, chairman, mentioned that George Clemett, the founding secretary of the gardening club and life president of the Bere Ferrers Horticultural Society, had recently died; his sound advice and sense of humour are greatly missed. She thanked her committee, all who had helped to make the show so successful, particularly show secretary Bob Rowley, Bere Alston CP School pupils for their splendid colourful posters, and Kim Wild for presenting the trophies. This year a new Bere Ferrers Parish Council trophy for the best kept allotment in the parish and donated by Cllr Eaon Wager, was presented by vice chairman Philip Archer and it was awarded to Ted Handy. Trophy winners: Mrs O Rich trophy, sweet peas, Mrs S Venables; Mrs V Johns cup, novice decorative, Mrs E Kiltie; Mrs Williams cup 1963, vegetable or fruit model, Holly Dunn; Arnold Cup 1955, vegetables, B Lamb; George Williams Rose Bowl, pot plants, Mrs S Venables; Janie Brown Memorial cup 1979, dahlias, K Jones; Farm Industries Trophy 1971, flowers, Wendy Kingwell; Mrs D Friend Memorial trophy 1974, decorative, Mrs M Wilmott; Hannaford Trophy, shallots, K Jones; Broom and Green Ltd Trophy 1949, handicraft, Mrs B Read; Sid Hill Cup, domestic, M Emptage; Hon Mrs E Varley Trophy 1972, photography, C Moody; Miss Rose Hind Trophy, marmalade, Mrs Y Howard; Edith V Brown Cup 1971, apple juice, B Lamb; Rigby and Piper Cup 1970, handicraft, Mrs B Read; Mrs Bostock Cup 1950, fruit, M Cartwight; Institute Cup 1955, secondary school pupils, Miss Laura Painter; H J Giltrap Trophy 1965, potted marigold,Joshua Howard; J H Sleep Cup 1954, primary school pupils, Joshua Howard; BFHS Silver Oriental Bowl 1950, runner-up domestic, M Emptage; Col Varley Trophy 1954, domestic, Mrs Y Howard; Shanks Memorial Cup 1930, photography, C Moody; F Easterbrook Memorial Cup 1977, fruit, Mrs S Mulford; Mrs Snell Cup 1969, decorative, Miss J Sharman; Dr Caverhill Cup 1978, runner-up pot plants and flowers, Mrs D Roxburgh; Ernest Holloway Cup 1958, pot plants and flowers, K Jones; Kenyon Cup 1960, runner-up vegetables, B Williams; Pringle cup 1964, vegetables, J Hubbard; George May Cup, HT roses, K Jones; Dr Shanks Medal, most points in show, Joshua Howard. Special classes section B: class 41, collection, K Jones; class 43, Top Vase, K Jones. Children?s posters: 1, Chloe Pearce, 2 Matt Clark, 3 Sam Hodge. HC Ben Gentle and Courtney Bradbury.
