Richard Edwards gives the rundown on a very special Pilning Flower Show.

The 50th Pilning Flower Show celebrated its golden anniversary on Saturday on a gloriously sunny day and with a special exhibition of its past presented by the Local History Group.

The main hall at St Peter’s School was bursting at the seams with visitors enjoying over 400 wonderful exhibits, several of which were on a golden them.

Fittingly, one of those special classes which was for something to celebrate Concorde’s 50th year, was judged best overall entry in the show for nine-year-old Rebecca Latham-Roberts.

Her pop-up book on the history of Concorde in the children’s classes had been made in great detail with a lot of care and skill. Runner up for best golden entry was Yvonne Gaulton’s very bright flower arrangement.

Local resident Edward England was the most successful competitor with most points in the show and going away with 5 trophies in the horticultural sections.

Graham Hawkins from Bristol was top dog in vegetables with 7 firsts and 3 cups.

There were ties in both fruit and baking respectively between; Elizabeth Latham Roberts and Julia Edwards and Diane Lloyd and Steph Edwards.

Other cup winners were: Catherine Fish – homemade drinks, Michael Pruett – best photography, Rita Keepin – flower arranging, Bea Smith – best under 8 entry, Zoe Hardman – crafts, Darcie Morgan – tallest sunflower, Cliff Coleman and Joe Batt – best allotments, Diane Down and Lyn Rumble best front gardens, All’ Angelo – best commercial, Shoshi Sanders – specimen rose, and Kathy Willott – best tasting jam.

A full set of results will be available on the Pilning Flower Show Facebook page.

Trophies were presented by Gill Auden from Jigsaw Thornbury, the show’s charity for 2019.

Gill received an initial cheque for £500 for the charity, which organisers hope will be tripled when takings and sponsorship are totalled.

Both the bumper raffle and the entertaining auction dispersal of produce and donated items by auctioneers Gary Sheppard and Richard Edwards were very well supported.

The final cheque will be presented at the AGM on October 15 when planning will also commence for the show on August 29.

lMore photos from the event are available at gazetteseries.co.uk