Introduction
Chittlehampton & District Garden Show, Fete and Dog Show is held in the Village Hall & surrounding grounds, Chittlehampton. In 2023 the Show will be in its 79th year. It is held annually on the second Saturday in August, and in 2023 it falls on 12 August. It opens at 2 pm. Proceeds in aid of Village Hall Fund.
Have a look around the website and see the fun that was had at the 2019 Show although the weather was very unkind. There has been a gap in shows with the Covid years of 2020 and 2021 plus the phenomenal heat of 2022.
Do please think of exhibiting in 2023. Sally Broughton and sister Charlotte Grimshire have taken over as Show Secretaries in 2023 and would be so delighted if you would take part, you do not need to be an expert grower. Sue Mizon has also taken over as Homecraft Secretary.
Ray Jenkins kindly opened the show in 2019 and presented the prizes. Have a look at the slide show below of exhibits and judging from 2019. Hopefully they will give you inspiration for your exhibit this year!
Have a look around the website and see the fun that was had at the 2019 Show although the weather was very unkind. There has been a gap in shows with the Covid years of 2020 and 2021 plus the phenomenal heat of 2022.
Do please think of exhibiting in 2023. Sally Broughton and sister Charlotte Grimshire have taken over as Show Secretaries in 2023 and would be so delighted if you would take part, you do not need to be an expert grower. Sue Mizon has also taken over as Homecraft Secretary.
Ray Jenkins kindly opened the show in 2019 and presented the prizes. Have a look at the slide show below of exhibits and judging from 2019. Hopefully they will give you inspiration for your exhibit this year!
You will find a little history below which makes interesting reading:
Crystal Andrews took over as Show Secretary in August 2011 and has handed over to Sally Tattiana Broughton and Charlotte Grimshire in 2023.
Retired Show Secretary:
Derek Matthews stepped down as Secretary of Chittlehampton Garden Show in August 2011 after 31 years at the helm (pictured here with his wife Margaret who is Homecraft Secretary and a member of Chittlehampton Social Club). Margaret stepped down as Homecraft Secretary in 2022. Their daughter Alison was Treasurer for many years and also stepped down in 2022.
Derek has been passionate about plants since he was a child and is very keen for young people to come forward to ensure the Show's success continues. Luckily for Chittlehampton, Derek will still be exhibiting and supporting the Show; gently ensuring that his successor gets it right! He has done an amazing job over the years and will be a very hard act to follow!
Rose and her team of Cup Cakes, formerly Chittlehampton Tea Bags, decided after 9 years to let someone else serve the teas from 2013. Many thanks to Rose & Co for all their efforts.
Brenda & Co now run the teas very successfully.
Derek has been passionate about plants since he was a child and is very keen for young people to come forward to ensure the Show's success continues. Luckily for Chittlehampton, Derek will still be exhibiting and supporting the Show; gently ensuring that his successor gets it right! He has done an amazing job over the years and will be a very hard act to follow!
Rose and her team of Cup Cakes, formerly Chittlehampton Tea Bags, decided after 9 years to let someone else serve the teas from 2013. Many thanks to Rose & Co for all their efforts.
Brenda & Co now run the teas very successfully.
Steward retiring:
Also stepping down from her role as Steward supporting Derek is Cynthia Cockram. Cynthia has been quietly following the judges around and taking note of the scoring (pictured here in action with judge, Peter Cole). Another key role has been ensuring that the content/number of exhibits is correct trying not to let anyone be disqualified. Many thanks to Cynthia for her years of support.
A Little History.....
We cannot date this picture but it is taken from a clipping out of the paper when The Matthews family won a 'family hat trick' at the Show one year. Derek won the cup for most points, his wife Margaret won the Women's Institute Cup and his mother was runner up in the WI Section.
The first Chittlehampton Garden Show to aid Red Cross Funds was held in 1942 on August Bank Holiday. According to an extract from the North Devon Journal it was a great success and the Secretary & Treasurer at the time was Mr J. R. Burgess. Curiously the Journal is dated 13 August 1942 - was August Bank Holiday earlier then? During the afternoon variety shows were given by Mr Spencer Vivian and Skittling was held in the Reading Room. There was a Baby Show and Lorna Phillips won for 12 months; and Eunice Andrew won for 1-2 years. Mrs W. Stone won the Best War Time Cake. The serving of tea was supervised by members of the Women's Institute. The days proceedings concluded with a Whist Drive and Dance when the Vicar (the Rev R. Seymour) thanked everyone who had assisted in making the day such a great success. All of the exhibits were sold in the evening and realised a considerable sum for the Red Cross Fund. Mr J. R. Burgess reported a credit balance of £65 2s. 10d.
In an extract from the North Devon Journal dated 12 August 1943 entitled, Chittlehampton's Red Cross Week, competitions helped to swell the funds and over £200 was raised. During this week a sports programme was held, a Dance, Whist Drive, Maypole Dancing, Punch & Judy, Cricket Match (Veterans versus the Rest), Skittles Competition and Concert. It seems the Veterans won the match by a substantial margin!
To appease your curiosity Derek has been researching August bank holiday dates. It seems the last August Bank Holiday held on the first Monday in August was on Monday 3 August 1964. A change in the law in 1971 formalised that the last Monday in August should become a Bank Holiday following a trial period of the new arrangement between 1965 and 1970. Grenville Buckingham whose family have been long time residents in Chittlehampton kindly sent the show catalogue for Monday 3 August 1964 which is copied below:
