Bumper crop of show entries

There were 220 in all, spread over the adults’ and children’s classes.

The contest was held at the Island Hall and featured vegetables, preserves, jams, flowers and flower arrangements, craftwork and a mouthwatering abundance of cakes.

Veteran entrant John Maurice came away with the show cup for best vegetables, winning a haul of firsts for his carrots, potatoes, beetroot, red onions and tomatoes.

‘Just luck’ was how he described his success, although a glimpse at his plot shows how effort and organisation pays off.

‘Everything was very slow this year then came on quickly when the weather became warmer,’ he said. His tomatoes had provided the most satisfaction this year, which he explained he grew from seed brought back from France.

‘I try different types each year to see what works.’

Helen Paterson scooped the cup for best flowers and jointly won the cup with Pauline Powell for floral decorations. She won a first for her ‘petite’ arrangement with the suffrage movement as a theme. Her entry contained a photo of her maternal grandmother, Melissa Seyed, surrounded by sprigs of clematis, buddleia and dahlias in the purple, green and white colours of the movement.

‘She was a suffragist,’ said Mrs Paterson. ‘She didn’t chain herself to things, but she went on marches and demonstrated without being aggressive. The men in her life were rather soft – it was the women who were the serious-minded ones.’

The former archaeologist created a striking ‘natural’ exhibit on a First World War theme, using alium pods to represent shells exploding.

Jan Walker took the cup for preserves and cakes, Ann Fleming won the cup for handicrafts and Saoirse Neill won the cup for the children’s category. Helen Craig took the Challenge Cup for WI member with the most points and Helen Paterson won the Challenge Cup Open. The Horticultural Society Rose Bowl went to Trish McLernon.

Alison Wilby took first prize in patchwork for her beautiful rainbow quilt. She has been patchworking for around 20 years.

‘I like it because you just get lost in it – you can just switch off and relax,’ she explained.

‘With this one, I just wanted to do something with rainbows, because my last work was with quite sombre colours.’

Alison runs a patchworking group at 7pm every Thursday at the Methodist Church Hall. All are welcome.