"The Saturday morning of the Worcester Flower Show dawned bright and clear." I would like to begin like that but unfortunately it didn't; it was cloudy and raining. However three intrepid souls, aka John, Pippa and Bev, their cars filled with plants and paraphenalia, arrived at Gheluvelt Park, Worcester to set up the Hardy Plant Society stall. Two hours later we had a beautiful display of late summer flowers and grasses expertly arranged by Pippa, and two tables of HPS literature and plants for sale.
We then had to leave the marquee while the judging was in progress so Pippa and John took the opportunity to find a cafe for breakfast and Bev, with Marilyn and John Wrightson, attended the opening ceremony for the park and dedication of the war memorial. At one o'clock it was back to the marquee for the flower show opening and a pleasant afternoon chatting to passers by, selling a few plants and listening to the rain drumming on the canvas! Finally the show closed, it was packing up time and home to put our feet up for a well deserved rest.
My special thanks to Marilyn Wrightson, Sue Deakin and Judith and Colin Doughty for manning the stand, Judy Pollitt and Jackie Davis for plants, John Wrightson for turning up early with Marilyn and fetching and carrying while we were setting up and Robin Pearce for lending us plants from his nursery for the display. An endurance medal goes to Colin and Judith for a journey which should have taken 35 minutes but took 2 hours due to traffic jams on the M5. Joint best in show is easily won by John and Pippa who did by far most of the work, visiting Robin's nursery to choose the plants, making the display stand in advance in John's garage and generally working their socks off to make it all come together so well.
Thank you all. If I have missed anyone out, please give yourselves a pat on the back from me.
Bev Drewitt