2024 Pilning Flower Show Spectacular
The Pilning Open Flower Show held at St Peter’s School, Pilning on Saturday 24th August was a resounding success. Calls by the organisers, prior to the show, for new competitors to come forward, were answered. There were 77, the highest number since the show’s record of 2012 and a very respectable 411 entries. Over 200 people visited in the afternoon to see the wonderful displays including vegetables and baking which were up on last year, as well as the younger children’s classes, boosted by the local Rainbows group. In addition to the normal prize money and treats, every child entering the show received a £5 Hobbycraft gift voucher, which may entice them back again next year.
Best in show was a beautiful woollen hat made by parish resident Meaghan O’Neil. This hand knitted craft showcased a five-coloured Fair Isle stranded design. Meaghan recently joined the committee and designed the website for the Flower Show where you can find all the results from the 73 classes and photos from the day. Other award winners were: Alan Bainbridge for tomatoes and dahlias; Mervyn Reeves, most points in flowers; Bob Roper, onions; Becky Griffin, specimen rose; Victoria Bywater, fruit; Tim & Aly Dark most points in horticulture, Susan Edwardes best pickles and best tasting jam; Catherine Fish, most points in baking; Bob Edwardes, best photo and most points in photography; Rosemarie Roper, most points in flower arranging; Ivy Reeves best exhibit 8 years and under; Beccy Latham Roberts, most points children 14 years and under. Chair Richard Edwards won cups for most point in vegetables and potatoes and in the show by a Parish resident. Also winning tallest sunflower for a second year, he urged other residents to ‘please have a go’. Best allotments were won by Tony Cole and Tim Dark. Best front gardens by John & Lesley Luke, and Sally & Brian Baber. Best commercial frontage was Just As You Are Tea Cottage.
The awards were presented by Karen Vizard, representing the Alveston based child bereavement charity ‘Made a Mark’, who will receive proceeds from this year’s show. Record amounts were raised from the entertaining auction of produce and donated items delivered by Nick Harley and Duncan Kemp and the bumper raffle which concluded at around 5:30pm on a fine, but cool, summer’s evening. The annual show will return on 23rd August 2025.
2024 Winners
Award Presented For
Best exhibit in show by any exhibitor (Pilning Flower Show Shield) - Meaghan O’Neil - Class 73
Best exhibit in show by a Parish resident (The Creene Cup) - Meaghan O’Neil - Class 73
Parish resident highest points in show (The PFS Rose Bowl) - Richard Edwards - Points 30
Highest points in Section 1 - Vegetables (The Massey Cup) - Richard Edwards - Points 23
Highest points in Potatoes (Percy Cosham Wilcox Cup) - Richard Edwards - Points 4
Class 3 - Onions spring sown (The Harry Cox Cup) - Bob Roper
Winner of Class 11 - Tomatoes (Hugh Jackson Memorial Bowl) - Alan Bainbridge
Highest points in Section 2 - Flowers (Park Garden Centre Cup) - Mervyn Reeves - Points 16
Winner of Class 21 - Specimen Rose (The David England Rose Cup) - Becky Griffin
Best Dahlia Entry (The Mervyn Jacobs Memorial Award) - Alan Bainbridge
Class 28 - Rudbeckia (The Vera Wilcox Cup) - Rosemarie Roper
Highest points in Section 3 - Fruit (The Joseph Hicks Cup) - Victoria Bywater Pts 5
Most points in the horticultural classes (The RHS Banksian Medal) - Tim & Aly Dark - Points 23
Awarded for the best pickled produce (The James Gillespie Memorial Cup) - Susan Edwardes
Best tasting jam (The Roy Edwards Cup) - Susan Edwardes
Highest points in Section 5 - Baking (The Hollytrees Cup) - Catherine Fish - Points 11
Best entry by a Parishioner in Section 7 - Photography (The Redwick Cup) - Gill King - Class 53
Most points in Photography (The Ian Kemp Memorial Cup) - Bob Edwardes – Points 10
Most points in Flower Arranging (The Dorothy Cannard Cup) - Rosemarie Roper - Points 7
Best Exhibit in Section 9 - Children’s (The Elaine Hodge Junior Cup) - Ivy Reeves - Class 62
Most points Section 10 - Children’s (The Trevor Fry Junior Cup) - Beccy Latham-Roberts - Points 9
Best entry Section 11 - Adult Crafts (Flower Show President’s Award) - Meaghan O’Neil - Class 73
Tallest Sunflower (P&SB Gardeners’ Club Cup) - Richard Edwards – 3.11m 10’ 3”
Best Kept Allotment - Pilning (Parish Council Centenary Cup) - Tony Cole
Best Kept Allotment - S. Beach (Parish Council Centenary Cup) - Tim Dark
Householder Best Kept Front Garden (Parish Council Cup - Pilning) - John & Lesley Luke, Bridge View, Severn Way, New Passage
Householder Best Kept Front Garden (Parish Council Cup - S. Beach) - Sally & Brian Baber, 116 Beach Road
Best Frontage (Commercial) (Frances Barr Cup) - Just As You Are Tea Cottage, Beach Road, Severn Beach, Miriam Street
2023 Pilning Flower Show Escapes the Rain
The 2023 show on 26th August once again proved to be a great success, with the outdoor auction of produce and grand raffle draw just concluding as the heavens opened. Visitors to the show had dug deep raising a record amount for the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity who were represented on the day by Alyson Kennea.
Competitors and entries were up by 10% from the previous year with fruit, preserves, baking, photography and crafts being particularly well supported. Wildlife photography (17), cherry tomatoes (15) and jam (12) topped out of the 429 entries.
Remarkably, 90-year-old show stalwart Edward England won best in show for his spectacular ‘King Charles III’ flower arrangement. Edward also took home trophies for most points in the show and in flowers, and the cup for tomatoes. Youth also prevailed with 9-year-old Ollie Roper winning the Harry Cox Cup for best spring sown onions and 13-year-old Beccy Latham Roberts sharing the cup for most points in fruit. Other trophy winner included Mervyn Reeves – specimen rose and most points in horticultural classes, Diane Lloyd most points in cakes, Helen & Jon Oates most points in flower arranging and Lizzie Latham Roberts most points children 14 and under.
The new Ian Kemp Memorial Cup was a first for the show in its 127-year history, as it was made by donor Duncan Kemp using 3D printing. This distinctive trophy was awarded for most points in photography and was won by Steven Wharram. A full set of results and award winners can be found on this website together with lots of photos from the day.
The main hall and grounds of St Peter’s School were full of visitors in the afternoon, who enjoyed the wonderful displays and the homemade refreshments. Show organisers were very pleased with the response and the compliments received for how things ran. They were particularly delighted by the generosity of local businesses and organisations featured in the programme and on this website who all donated money or items to be auctioned or included in the raffle. These are paramount to the continued success of the show and the funds raised for charity. Thank you everyone for your support. The show date for 2024 will be Saturday 24th August.
2023 Winners
Award Presented For
Best exhibit in show by any exhibitor (Pilning Flower Show Shield) - Edward England - Class 61
Best exhibit in show by a Parish resident (The Creene Cup) - Edward England - Class 61
Parish resident highest points in show (The PFS Rose Bowl) - Edward England - Points 34
Highest points in Section 1 - Vegetables (The Massey Cup) - Bob Roper - Points 18
Highest points in Potatoes (Percy Cosham Wilcox Cup) - Sue Gillard & Helen Maddison - Points 3
Class 3 - Onions spring sown (The Harry Cox Cup) - Ollie Roper
Winner of Class 11 - Tomatoes (Hugh Jackson Memorial Bowl) - Edward England
Highest points in Section 2 - Flowers (Park Garden Centre Cup) - Edward England - Points 17
Winner of Class 21 - Specimen Rose (The David England Rose Cup) - Mervyn Reeves
Class 28 - Rudbeckia (The Vera Wilcox Cup) - Richard Edwards
Highest points in Section 3 - Fruit (The Joseph Hicks Cup) - Julia Edwards & Beccy Latham Roberts Pts 4
Most points in the horticultural classes (The RHS Banksian Medal) - Mervyn Reeves - Points 17
Awarded for the best pickled produce (The James Gillespie Memorial Cup) - Susan Edwardes
Best tasting jam (The Roy Edwards Cup) - Jessica Sleigh
Highest points in Section 5 - Baking (The Hollytrees Cup) - Diane Lloyd - Points 10
Best entry in Section 7 - Photography (The Redwick Cup) - Yvonne Gaulton - Class 56
Best entry in Section 7 - Photography (The Redwick Cup) - Yvonne Gaulton - Class 56
Most points in Photography (The Ian Kemp Memorial Cup) - Steven Wharram – Points 11
Most points in Flower Arranging (The Dorothy Cannard Cup) - Helen & Jon Oates - Points 7
Best Exhibit in Section 9 - Children’s (The Elaine Hodge Junior Cup) - Ivy Reeves - Class 63
Most points Section 10 - Children’s (The Trevor Fry Junior Cup) - Lizzie Latham-Roberts - Points 10
Best entry Section 11 - Adult Crafts (Flower Show President’s Award) - Anne Bradbury - Class 73
Tallest Sunflower (P&SB Gardeners’ Club Cup) - Richard Edwards – 3.17m 10’ 5”
Best Kept Allotment - Pilning (Parish Council Centenary Cup) - Norman Pearce
Best Kept Allotment - S. Beach (Parish Council Centenary Cup) - Tim Dark
Householder Best Kept Front Garden (Parish Council Cup - Pilning) - Julie Burbage, Dove Cottage, Northwick Rd
Householder Best Kept Front Garden (Parish Council Cup - S. Beach) - Shirley Fletcher, 34, Salthouse Farm
Best Frontage (Commercial) (Frances Barr Cup) - Central Pook, Northwick Rd, Hazel Gwilym
2023 Best Gardens and Commercial Frontage Results
All the gardens and commercial properties in the Parish were judged by the Flower Show organisers back in July. There are certainly a lot of splendid gardens, and congratulations to those that won or got into the top tens below. Cups and shields were awarded at the Flower Show on 26th August, but although it’s now September, it’s not too late to go on a walk and see the gardens for yourself.
Pilning Winner of Best Garden:
Dove Cottage, Northwick Road
A lovely, traditional cottage garden full of plants. Borders, shrubs, trees, perennials, and colourful pots on a gravel drive. The roadside planting is a pleasant addition. Congratulations to Julie Burbage.
The following gardens were all highly commended:
31, Cross Hands Road - Mature garden with roses and perennial shrubs in borders very well kept.
55, Cross Hands Road - Good lawn, mix of planters, shrubs and well-kept attractive hedges
2, Green Cottage, New Passage - Stunningly colourful, neat lawn, perennials, annuals, shrubs and climbers. Shady area, good use of pots and hard landscaping. 2019 winner.
Saefern, New Passage Road - Very colourful borders neat lawns and shrubs. 2020 winner.
24, Redwick Road - A natural garden for wildlife, re-using materials, a lot in a small space.
75, Redwick Road - Very neat and well-maintained. Effective use of pots with roses around front entrance and tidy border. Verge planted too. Bridge View, Severn Way - Lawns, trimmed shrubs, veranda with patio pots.
16, The Glebe - Well-kept lawn colourful baskets and containers all around.
31, Wainbridge Crescent - Well-maintained colourful display of bedding plants. 2021 winner.
Severn Beach Winner of Best Garden:
34, Salthouse Farm
A good variety of plants and colour, well-kept with immaculate lawn. A consistently good garden, last winning back in 2004. Congratulations to Shirley Fletcher.
The following gardens were all highly commended:
21, Ableton Lane - Stunningly colourful begonias planted in wall and in baskets along wooden fence.
114/116, Beach Road - Attractive planting of perennials & annuals especially along footpath plus hanging baskets and planters at the front. Both gardens tended by 116.
Plotland, Church Road - Good variety of kerbside planting all in flower and colourful. Won 2022.
102, Gorse Cover - Neat planting against house wall providing colour.
7, Rustic Park - Huge begonias, very colourful display, great variety of pot grown plants.
11, Rustic Park - Lovely mix of plants surrounding dwelling, e.g. sunflowers, gladioli and vegetables in growbags.
53, Salthouse Farm - Slate base, colourful, variety of plants, shrubs & flowers.
42, Station Road - Lots of lilies and colour in a small space.
15, Victoria Crescent - Busy colourful garden using containers with bedding plants.
Best Commercial Frontage:
Central Pook, Northwick Road, Pilning
An array of large wooden planters filled with assortments of colourful flowers around the café and outdoor seating area, which is kept clean and tidy sa. Congratulations to Hazel Gwilym.
2022 Winners
Award Presented For
Best exhibit in show by any exhibitor (Pilning Flower Show Shield) - Catherine Fish 73
Best exhibit in show by a Parish resident (The Creene Cup) - Beccy Latham-Roberts - Class 71
Parish resident highest points in show (The PFS Rose Bowl) - Edward England - Points 36
Highest points in Section 1 - Vegetables (The Massey Cup) - Bob Roper & Richard Edwards - Points 13
Highest points in Potatoes (Percy Cosham Wilcox Cup) - Helen Madison & David England - Points 3
Class 3 - Onions spring sown (The Harry Cox Cup) - Graham Hawkins
Winner of Class 11 - Tomatoes (Hugh Jackson Memorial Bowl) - Edward England
Highest points in Section 2 - Flowers (Park Garden Centre Cup) - Edward England - Points 21
Winner of Class 21 - Specimen Rose (The David England Rose Cup) - Heather Rickards
Class 28 - Rudbeckia (The Vera Wilcox Cup) - Edward England
Highest points in Section 3 - Fruit (The Joseph Hicks Cup) - Bywater family - Points 6
Most points in the horticultural classes (The RHS Banksian Medal) - Edward England Points 35
Awarded for the best pickled produce (The James Gillespie Memorial Cup) - Helen & Jon Oates
Best tasting jam (The Roy Edwards Cup) - Caroline Newton
Highest points in Section 5 - Baking (The Hollytrees Cup) - Susan Edwards - Points 14
Best entry in Section 7 - Photography (The Redwick Cup) - Sophie Andrews - Class 56
Highest points in Flower Arranging (The Dorothy Cannard Cup) - Rosemarie Roper - Points 8
Best Exhibit in Section 9 - Children’s (The Elaine Hodge Junior Cup) - Ivy Reeves - Class 62
Most points Section 10 - Children’s (The Trevor Fry Junior Cup) - Beccy Latham-Roberts - Points 10
Best entry Section 11 - Adult Crafts (Flower Show President’s Award) - Catherine Fish - Class 73
Tallest Sunflower (P&SB Gardeners’ Club Cup) - Sue King - 3.3m
Best Kept Allotment - Pilning (Parish Council Centenary Cup) - Brenda & Cliff Coleman
Best Kept Allotment - S. Beach (Parish Council Centenary Cup) - Rosemary Crane
Householder Best Kept Front Garden (Parish Council Cup - Pilning) - Patricia and Don Nunn, 3 Cross Hands Rd
Householder Best Kept Front Garden (Parish Council Cup - S. Beach) - Donna Coller, Plotland, Church Road
Best Frontage (Commercial) (Frances Barr Cup) - The Old Piggery, Severn Road, Lorna Fussel
2021 Winners
Award Presented For
Best exhibit in show by any exhibitor (Pilning Flower Show Shield) - Diane Lloyed - Class 43
Best exhibit in show by a Parish resident (The Creene Cup) - Diane Lloyd - Class 43
Parish resident highest points in show (The PFS Rose Bowl) - Bob Roper - Points 25
Highest points in Section 1 - Vegetables (The Massey Cup) - Bob Roper - Points 25
Highest points in Potatoes (Percy Cosham Wilcox Cup) - Graham Hawkins & David England - Points 3
Class 3 - Onions spring sown (The Harry Cox Cup) - Bob Roper
Winner of Class 11 - Tomatoes (Hugh Jackson Memorial Bowl) - David l-Anson
Highest points in Section 2 - Flowers (Park Garden Centre Cup) - Edward England - Points 19
Winner of Class 21 - Specimen Rose (The David England Rose Cup) - Rosemarie Roper
Class 28 - Rudbeckia (The Vera Wilcox Cup) - Helen & Jon Oates
Highest points in Section 3 - Fruit (The Joseph Hicks Cup) - Bob Roper - Points 25
Most points in the horticultural classes (The RHS Banksian Medal) - Edward England - Points 35
Awarded for the best pickled produce (The James Gillespie Memorial Cup) - Helen & Jon Oates
Best tasting jam (The Roy Edwards Cup) - Jo Batt
Highest points in Section 5 - Baking (The Hollytrees Cup) - Catherine Fish - Points 11
Best entry in Section 7 - Photography (The Redwick Cup) - Steven Wharram - Class 54
Highest points in Flower Arranging (The Dorothy Cannard Cup) - Pat Edwards, Helen & Jon Oates and Rosemarie Roper - Points 4
Best Exhibit in Section 9 - Children’s (The Elaine Hodge Junior Cup) - Ollie Roper - Class 63
Most points Section 10 - Children’s (The Trevor Fry Junior Cup) - Lizzie Latham-Roberts - Points 12
Best entry Section 11 - Adult Crafts (Flower Show President’s Award) - Catherine Fish - Class 73
Tallest Sunflower (P&SB Gardeners’ Club Cup) - Alfie Roper - 2.64 m
Best Kept Allotment - Pilning (Parish Council Centenary Cup) - Norman Pearce
Best Kept Allotment - S. Beach (Parish Council Centenary Cup) - Tim Dark
Householder Best Kept Front Garden (Parish Council Cup - Pilning) - Brenda & Cliff Coleman, 31 Wainbridge Cres
Householder Best Kept Front Garden (Parish Council Cup - S. Beach) - Gillian Cox, Oregon, Ableton Lane
Best Frontage (Commercial) (Frances Barr Cup) - Just As You Are Tea Cottage, Danny and Ester Bamfield
