There was a most entertaining afternoon’s enjoyment of the entries and judging at last weekend’s celebration of the floral and vegetal as the Fruit and Vegetable Show notched up 10 years. In total there were 219 entries in 54 classes of six categories in Rye’s Community Centre, and town councillor Nigel Jennings won a medal and a trophy.
Another winners was Lorna Hall who started the festival as part of Rye in Bloom. More recently the festival has been coordinated by Helena Hudson on behalf of the Rye Allotments Association.
Helena noted that this year that rather than some gardeners dominating the classes there were prize winners across the board. The winners of the six categories are listed below.
Fruit and vegetables: Nigel Jennings – category sponsored by D & V Large Autos
Flowers, Foliage and Ornamental:Yvonne Vickaray – category sponsored by Gibbons Mannington and Phipps
Cookery: Helen Redmond – category sponsored by the George in Rye
Photography: Joint winners Barry Hawkins, Penny Mitchell-Innes and Fiona Lepine – category sponsored by Rye Town Council
Handicraft:Joint winners Jen Jackson, Dennis Stuart and Helen Redmond – category sponsored by Rye Observer
Children’s classes: Alexander Redmond – category sponsored by Rye CIC
The RHS Banksian Medal which is awarded for the highest number of place points in the horticultural classes was awarded to Nigel Jennings.
And Nigel also took the Turk Trophy as the member of the Allotments Association with the highest number of place points in horticultural classes. Dennis Stuart had the highest overall points score in the show.
The show’s organisers and those who came to admire the handiwork of local gardeners will eagerly await next year’s show. But for the gardeners its time to get back to the allotment and start working on the crop of 2015.
Photos by Helena Hudson, Seana Lanigan and Tony McLaughlin