Former supporters of Sid Valley Horticultural Society remembered through new awards for Saturday’s show

TWO former supporters of Sid Valley Horticultural Society’s annual gardening and craft show, have been remembered this year.

Their names will live on in two new cups being awarded at the 83rd show, being held at Sidford sports field on Saturday, August 13, from 2-6pm.

The Paul Hargreaves Memorial Cup, which takes the form of a tankard, has been donated by Janet Hargreaves in memory of her husband, the former owner of Sidford’s Victoria Laundry.

“He used to pay the VAT on the marquee hire and always supported us,” said society chairman Maureen Britton.

The trophy will be presented to the winner in the decorative flower section by the Reverend Handel Bennett, former Sid Vale Association chairman, who will present all of this year’s prizes.

The second new award will remember Tony Myhill, who Maureen described as “the gladioli king” of the show until his sudden death last year.

His widow Margaret has replaced an old, 80-year-old cup that is given for the best gladiolus in show.

“He gave us all corms of his gladiolus to grow and we had competitions between ourselves to see if they came up as nicely as his did,” said Maureen.

“He was just one of those chaps, everything he grew was good.”

Sidmouth Town Council chairman, Councillor Stuart Hughes, will present the society with a grant during the afternoon.

Maureen is hoping for a good crowd tomorrow. They will be able to see plenty of exhibits in the big marquee, including WI homecraft entries and children’s paintings, photography, cookery and of course flowers and vegetables.

“We have very little funding coming in, so the more people we can get coming through the door helps us provide a show for the following year,” she said.