THE Minehead Flower and Produce Show took place at its regular venue, West Somerset College, in Bircham Road.

Ther show offered displays of beautiful flowers, ‘amazing’ vegetables, jams, and cakes, as well as talents from crafts and visual arts exhibitors.

Show visitors also had an opportunity to visit a Somerset Wildlife exhibition and buy plants on sale from the Garden Club and West Somerset Garden Centre stands.

The guest of honour was Somerset Cllr Mandy Chilcott, who visited all the sections of the event accompanied by show secretary Penny Brown.

Cllr Chilcott then presented awards to the winners of the classes, which had been judged in the morning.

There were 93 categories with first, second, and third placings, and 30 challenge cups awarded.

The club has arranged for the silverware cups to be engraved with the winners’ names by Francis James Jewellers.

The challenge cups included The Minehead Town Cup awarded to Robert Forgan, The Dennis Holmes Cup to Christine Paine, while the club member with the most points and the President’s Cup was awarded to Derek Toze.

The Arthur C. Clarke Cup went to Carol James for a 40-year-old conservatory grown cactus, called ‘Dave’.

Other winners included Derek Blay, Andrew Bristow, Penny Brown, Jane Davis, 

Julie Forbes-Buckingham, Orlah-Mai Lynch, Carol Mainwaring, Amy Manley, Eddy Parry, and Alan Puxley.

Minehead Gardening Club chairman Anne Lawton thanked Cllr Chilcott, all the exhibitors, the judges Colin Truen, Chris and Judy Yates, Hannah Cox, Fiona Plumstead, Wendy Schofield, Jim Moon, Gina King and Mark Stoford, and the local businesses which had sponsored classes and draw prizes.

Thanks also went to all the visitors, the volunteers - especially James and Oscar - The West Somerset Man with a Clean Van team who have been regular volunteers collecting and returning the show tables.

More information about the 2023 flower and produce show can be found by visiting www.mineheadgardenclub.chessck.co.uk.