Horticulture show returns to Warwick after ‘difficult’ year

[dutchman]

It has been a turbulent year for the Warwick Horticultural Society but now it finally has something to celebrate.



After being cancelled for the first time since the 1940s last year the Horticultural Show, an annual bank holiday weekend fixture, will return to St Nicholas Park (today) Sunday and Monday.

The show was cancelled last year due to considerable debts and financial irregularities which are still under police investigation.

But a new committee was appointed and has worked hard to clear the debts and start rebuilding the foundations of the club.

The annual show is one of the most popular events in the town, attracting hundreds of people from around the county, with visitors descending on the park to enjoy horticulture, food and the prize exhibits.

Chairman Peter Booty said: “I am pleased to confirm that the annual show is on again this year.

“We have recovered from the problems we encountered last year.

“It is all coming together, entries are coming in. All the preparations are in place and we are set to return this weekend.

“Financially we have overcome the problems. We had a lot of debts so it’s come a long way. It has been a difficult year.

“Police enquiries are continuing, they are still investigating the problems we had, but we can’t say much more than that at the moment.

“To some of us organising the show is a newish experience and everybody has rallied round and pulled together. We just hope the weather is good for us, but it should be a good turnout.

“It’s on a slightly smaller scale than it has been in the past, but there will still be a wide range of exhibits.”

Warwick Mayor Cllr Trudy Offer will be at the show on Sunday to officially open it, and the society is urging people of Warwick to give their support to one of the oldest and most popular groups in the town.

Mr Booty added: “We have a tea stand and some fantastic prizes from various local groups for the raffle, with the average prize valued at around £25. We’ve had a great deal of support from various local people and groups.

“We will have the competitions for the longest runner bean and the strangest vegetable and so on.

“I am looking forward to it being over in the sense I want to be successful. It will be good when we’ve done it and can work on organising next year and helping it to continue to rebuild.”

The show opens at 10am on Sunday and will run throughout the day and again on bank holiday Monday.

Click on the link http://www.warwickhorticulturalsociety.org.uk/ for more information.