Winter Show 2022

The Leigh-on-Sea Horticultural Winter Flower Show went with a bang on 5th November. Cacti formed one of the most diverse classes with exhibits ranging from the tiny and smooth to some huge specimens armed with spikes and prickles.

Michael Horner swept the board in the chrysanthemum classes with his red reflex and bronze intermediate flowers.

Vegetable growing was still popular this late in the year with impressive squashes and tomatoes on show. In the novelty classes, Jaquline Trew won first prize with her 'heaviest carrot', while the 'one flower and one vegetable' class drew an interesting range of exhibits.

The children's classes were well-supported with a colourful array of pasta necklaces and some festive Christmas bookmarks. Eight-year-old Joe Webster took first prize in both those categories. Nellie Woodward baked a heart-shaped pizza and won first prize in that category.

Art and handicrafts took up one whole side of the hall with exhibits ranging from patchwork and knitting to pencil drawings, jewellery and Christmas decorations. Historic buidlings proved a popular category in the photography classes, with pictures from across the world, including Colchester, Italy and India.

Floral arrangments focused on Christmassy themes, and contributed a great deal to the festive atmosphere of the afternoon. As usual, the cakes, pies and puddings classes were hotly contested and the exhibits probably inspired many visitors to indulge in some home-baked treats in the tearoom.

All in all, this year's Winter Show was a great success. Prizes were announced by Chairman Julia Tetley and presented by President Jim Sanctuary. However, in thanking all the exhibitors, Julia mentioned that several other horticultural societies were known to have recently closed due to lack of support. "Don't let that happen to us," she said.