South Show considers change
A SHORTAGE of members could see the South Show holding a ‘village fete’ on day two of the event in future rather than having entertainment taking place over the two days.
The idea was among matters raised at this year’s annual meeting of the Southern Agricultural and Horticultural Society, which was held in the unusual but comfortable setting of La Villette Hotel’s residents’ lounge.
Despite the summer’s dry weather making growing difficult, the show had been one of the best, said president Mike Weysom: ‘We were the only show that was up on entries,’ he said.
He added that the introduction of the new novice and legacy classes had helped bring in new blood.
Treasurer and secretary the Very Rev. Marc Trickey said that the society had ended the year with a small loss – just under £600 – and the main reason for this was that it had spent about £1,500 to replace three gazebos that had been destroyed in stormy weather.
During reports on individual classes, Christine Guerin said that more could be done to encourage juniors to enter the arts and crafts section and she said that more promotion through the parish schools had been suggested.
Mr Weysom said a mother had suggested making information available at the community centre, which hosted many activities involving young people.
With regard to entertainment, Miss Guerin said that given the organisation involved in the dog show and bonny baby competition, it would be good to have more people involved from as early as January to organise prizes and so on although lots of people helped out on the day. ‘It’s a lot of work and new people aren’t coming up,’ she said. ‘We need more people with skills and ideas and time.’
She also said that it could be a good idea to make the Saturday more of a village fete, with the dog show and bonny baby contest on the same day.
Shortage of people was a recurring theme of the meeting, and it came to a head when membership secretary Terry Guerin reluctantly agreed to continue in the role despite intending to stand down, because nobody offered to replace her.
She wondered if changes could be made to the way memberships were handled if nobody else came forward to do the job in future.
The main topic of discussion under any other business was propositions from Mr Weysom and member John Ogier regarding prizes and trophies for the Island Garden Competition.
Mr Weysom said that currently anyone who earned a trophy had to pay for it to be engraved and, with the first prize being £15, they would have to spend most of this to get the work done.
He proposed that members of the society would have their engraving paid for, but non-members would have to pay.
Mr Ogier proposed that the prize money should be brought in line with at least one of the other shows – the West offered a top prize of £30, while the North’s was £25.
Mr Weysom’s proposal was passed by 11 votes to six.
The meeting also set the dates for next year’s show, which will take place on 14 and 15 August, with the equestrian events being held on 1 and 2 August.
