Elstead Garden Club held its Summer Flower Show on Saturday 11^th July in the Village Hall on a rather damp day, which happily did nothing to discourage a crowd of local visitors together with all the competitors and their families to come and see the display. The past weeks of hot sun and recent downpours seemed to have had little effect on the high standard of a record number of entries (162) for a Summer show. The Show Secretary, Di Terry, said it was good to see so many newcomers to the Club putting in so many entries and being so successful in all categories. There was also a record number of 20 entries for the various garden competition classes, with all the gardens looking "absolutely stunning". Cut flowers and pot plants together with flower arrangements, made a colourful picture in the Hall, while the vegetables and fruit classes plus goodies in the domestic section all made the mouth water. The Show was rounded off with ingenious entries in the Junior classes and a fine exhibition in the photographic section. Di Terry and her team must be congratulated for organising the Show, and all the competitors for making it so successful.

The prizes were awarded by the Club's President, Mr. Brian Deaville:

The Kathleen Edgley Cup for a single large-flowered rose went to Bob May; the Don Hendry Cup for cluster-flowered roses to Diana Terry; the Porter Cup (1965) for sweetpeas to Joyce Baker; the Challis Perpetual Trophy for the highest number of points in cut flowers and pot plants to Diana Burgess; the Adkins Cup for the best fuchsia to Sue Taylor; the Billmeir Garden Trophy for the highest number of points in the fruit and vegetable classes was won by John Manches for his magnificent vegetables; the Deaville Trophy for the best flower arrangement went to Diana Terry; the Pewter Bowl for the best domestic entry went to Jennifer Hearn for her mint jelly;  the Porter Cup (miniature) for the best junior entry went to Robin Elms for his edible necklace; and the Summer Photography Trophy was won by John Vellam.

The Royal Horticultural Society's Banksian Medal for the highest number of points in the cut flowers, pot plants, fruit and vegetables was awarded to Joyce Baker; the Worshipful Company of Gardeners' Diplomas for Excellence in Horticulture were awarded to Diana Burgess for her cut flowers, to Pat Reffold for her pot plant, and to John Manches for his vegetables; and finally, the Worshipful Company of Gardeners' Certificate of Merit for Floral Art was awarded to Diana Burgess for her flower arrangement, to Fiona Lorimer for her arrangement which was the Judge's Choice, and to Gillia De Pas as a first-time exhibitor in the novice class.

In the Garden Classes, which were judged on Thursday 9^th July, Pat Reffold won the Gordon Trophy for the Best Kept Garden, and the Challenge Rose Bowl for the Best Kept Border; the Porter Cup (1962) went to Roy and Sue Taylor for the Best Hanging Basket; and the Porter Urn (1961) to Brian and Diana Burgess for the Best Tub or Planter.

We are delighted to have cast the Pantomime Cinderella which will be staged in Elstead Village Hall 29 - 31 October 2009 (including a Matinee).  However we are still requiring a further three people as Chorus, and a drummer to accompany our Musical Director on the piano.  Anyone interested should contact Denise Cleaver on 01252-703739.