SUMMER appeared to come to an end at the start of August, and with rain, strong winds and cool temperatures, prospects for showing flowers and vegetables at Four Marks Horticultural Society’s summer show last Saturday seemed somewhat less than promising.

Four Marks enjoys its own special climate, which at an altitude of more than 600 feet is always less favourable than the balmy conditions enjoyed by surrounding settlements. With that in mind, show secretary Norman Day was not expecting an avalanche of entries to come pouring through his letterbox. Nevertheless, he said, 30 members produced some 230 entries.

“It was significantly down on last year’s showing, but hardly surprising given the weather 2017 has thrown at us. But it was a creditable effort nonetheless,” he said.

He continued: “Fortunately, show day dawned bright and sunny and remained so for most of the day. Flower and vegetable entries were somewhat depleted but the mixed flower vase class and classes for dahlias and hydrangeas, both of which enjoy a drop of rain, were much in evidence.

“It was much the same for vegetables where runner beans, which also like the wet, were well represented. Dessert apples too appear to have enjoyed the rain and there were more entries in this class than for many years.

“The floral art division, as usual, was a sight to behold with many splendid arrangements gracing the show benches.”

Prizes were well distributed among the entrants, with best exhibit won by Sylvia Muskett for her contemporary arrangement in blue and mauve.

Best exhibit in the cookery classes was awarded to Rosie Giles for her chocolate sponge, while the men only class was won by Mike Sheridan for his “mouthwatering apple pie”.

Mr Day added: “Handicraft classes demonstrate what a wide range of skills exists within the membership and knitted items and handmade jewellery were of a very high standard.”

Best in show, however, was won by Mr Day for his model of a sailing ship and the Days, Norman and Annette, jointly shared the award for those gaining most points in this division.

The show opened to the public at 2.30pm and over the next hour and a half around 130 villagers and friends filled the hall.

On entering the foyer, visitors were greeted with a selection of photographs which had been taken during a horticultural competition at Four Marks Primary School.

Mr Day said: “The skills of our young folk are quite remarkable, as is the enthusiasm of those teachers who guide them. This year, the Howarth Trophy for the best exhibit in the competition was won by Olivia Froggatt for her finely worked stitch work. This is the fourth year the society has run this event in conjunction with the school and it has proven to be a particularly successful event.”

In addition to the exhibits, visitors were able to take refreshments in the Green Welly Cafe and there was the opportunity to buy quality plants, cakes and homemade produce grown or made by society members.

As the show drew to a close, president Mike Scruse thanked everyone involved for their efforts in putting the show together and the public for attending.

Award winners:

Alan Fox Cup (to the member gaining the most points in flower classes, excluding the vase of flowers): Norman Day.

Howarth Trophy (for the best exhibit in the dahlia classes): Carole Pullen.

Dorothy Webber Cup (for the best exhibit of annuals or perennials): Mike Saltmarsh for his vase of zinnias.

Page Cup (to the member gaining most points in the pot plant classes): Norman Day.

Julie Lander Shield (to the member gaining the most points in the vegetable classes): Mike Saltmarsh.

Village News Cup (for the best exhibit in the vegetable classes): Mike Saltmarsh.

Woods Cup (for the best exhibit in the fruit classes): Yvonne Seaton for her cooking apples.

Jubilee Rose Bowl (to the member gaining the most points in the floral art classes 59-63): won jointly by Sylvia Muskett and Carole Pullen.

Peggy Munday Cup (for the best exhibit in the floral art classes 59-63): Sylvia Muskett.

Flower Bowl (to the member gaining most points in floral art classes 64-65): Annette Day.

Dr Margaret Hall Cup (for the floral art classes 64-65): Annette Day.

Rolling Pin Award (to the member gaining most points in the cookery classes): won jointly by Pippa Cockhead, Rosie Giles and Carole Pullen.

Cookery Cup (for the best exhibit in the cookery classes): Rosie Giles.

Handicraft Award (to the member gaining the most points in the handicraft classes): won jointly by Norman and Annette Day.

Handicraft Trophy (for the best exhibit in the handicraft section): Norman Day.

Gwen Topliss Cup (to the winner of the knitting class): Annette Day.

Alice Cooper Cup (for the best exhibit in the painting and photography classes): Norman Day for his drawing of a fireplace.

Family Challenge Cup (to the family gaining the most first, second and third prizes): won by Annette and Norman Day.

Banksian Medal, the premier award of the show, presented by the RHS (to the exhibitor gaining the greatest value of prize money in the flower and vegetable classes): Rosie Giles.

Garthowen Cup (for the best container and judged prior to the show): Janet Matthews.

The next meeting of the Four Marks Horticultural Society takes place on Monday, September 11, at 7.30pm at the village hall when Carol Watson will give a talk entitled ‘A Tale of Two Canals’. Non-members welcome.