THE rich colours and scents of autumn greeted the judges on their arrival at Thursley Village Hall on Saturday, September 17.

The bright blooms of dahlias jostled for position with Michaelmas daisies, foliage, vegetables and a display of fruit, while the photographic exhibits also reflected the season with ‘Twigs and Branches’ and ‘Yellow and Orange’.

Thursley Village Hall was crowded with well-wishers to see the show and they were not disappointed.

John Manches won the Top Tray competition for vegetables and Pat Clake won the Top Vase for flowers. Best cookery exhibit was awarded to Elspeth Hitchcock for her beautifully decorated cupcakes for which she received a diploma.

Other diplomas were awarded to John Manches for his huge onions and Terry Cornell for a stunning specimen dahlia, who also won the John Terry Cup for dahlias.

Peter and Caroline Mendelssohn won the Dye House Rose Cup for most points in the rose classes. Elspeth Hitchcock was awarded the Jennifer Hearn Trophy for most points in cookery and preserves over three shows while Pat Ketteringham won the Flower Arrangers Salver for most points for floral art over three shows. She was also awarded the Silver Jubilee Cup for her beautiful exhibit ‘A Tranquil Place’.

The other winners for most points over the year were Terry and Nicky Cornell who were awarded the Margaret Camp Cup for pot plants, John Manches who won the Keith Pierce Trophy for vegetables and Freddie Thorpe who won the Cradock-Henry award in the children’s section.

John Manches won the Ben Wonham Cup for vegetables in the autumn show and Terry and Nicky Cornell the West Lindfield Cup for flowers.

Chairman Jill Fry thanked everyone for their hard work in producing such a successful show despite the inclement weather conditions. The exhibits were dismantled in record time with help from the villagers.