The Early Years – 1978-1988
Like most farmers, gardening was not of any great interest to me, the garden was ploughed with a four furrow plough and planted in one day. Any plants that germinated were left to their own devices until it was time to harvest for the table. My wife Lorraine was a very keen gardener and encouraged me to take an interest. Having played Rugby and Cricket I was quite competitive – the next step had to be the local garden show.
1979 and a few vegetables were entered without any success. There were two outstanding exhibitors living in the parish – Burnard Hawkin and Jim Godden and several others in the area. It was decided to concentrate on flowers, all the usual types were grown and shown – Sweet Peas, Gladioli, Dahlia (of sorts) even Marigolds and Antirrhinum. That first year I won “most points cut flowers” at two shows. Also winning Best Gladioli, Best Local Exhibit and Best in Show and Most Points at my local show. I was hooked !
Reading “The Garden News” and Philip Damp’s column it was obvious that Dahlias were the flower to grow. The National Dahlia Society was joined and from the Winter Bulletin a list of the top prize winners noted. Most of the local shows only have a limited number of classes usually covering the three main classifications and sometimes the ball class. I made the mistake of ordering too many varieties and not enough of each. The first show of 1979 brings Best Dahlia, Best Cut Flower and Best in Show with the white large decorative – Silver City. Other winners that year are the now unlisted Alva’s Doris – red small cactus, Boy Mick – a yellow medium decorative, Biddenham Fire – a miniature decorative coloured as the name suggests. Opal a small ball in a very pale pink almost white and White Nettie a miniature ball. Still in the book are Risca Miner – maroon small ball, Klankstad Kerkrade – yellow small cactus and Willo’s Violet – still one of the top pompoms. Silver City is the only other variety seen on the bench these days. The Autumn shows were also entered that year winning with Chrysanths, Leeks and best vegetable exhibit with two heads of celery.
1980 – six local “Garden Shows” yield 3 Best in Show and 1 other best Dahlia, 1 best cut flower (3 Glads) and 3 points cups. A trip to Plymouth and The West of England Dahlia Society’s show attended by the calibre of Derek Hewlett from London the most successful grower of Giants. The evergreen Frank Newberry from Bristol and our own Peter Bateson then of Plymouth. I won the novice class for 3 miniature Dec with David Howard which at that time was still reasonably competitive. A third in a trophy class for two vases side by side plus two seconds and four thirds for single blooms were also won. Tintagel (as one of three shows, now sadly none) held a Chrysanthemum and Dahlia show with National medals on offer. A vase of Risca Miner won me my first NDS Bronze medal. November and I win Best in Show with three Kind Richard Leeks and Best Members Chrysanthemum.
1981 – still entering three local shows but now really only showing dahlias, gaining two Best Exhibit plus one best dahlia and one best cut flower. To Plymouth and a step up to the main classes, lucky enough to win two trophies, one for three small flowered classifications with White Kerkrade S.C., Lady Linda S.D. And Mistill Delight Min.D. Also best vase of Collerettes with La Cierva. The Cornish Dahlia Society, having been formed during the winter months held its first show at Perranporth. A second prize in the miniature decorative trophy class, it was three times five blooms then Worton Ann, David and Mistill Delight was used (none of these are seen on the show bench today). Frank Newberry came down as the National Pompon Champion and I managed to take second behind him in the trophy class with Birchwood (syn. Willo’s Violet), Iris and Moorplace (all these are still winning). Tintagel dahlia show silver medal with five White Kerkrade and Bronze five Nina Chester S.D.
1982 – a quiet year at the local shows, one best in show with Gaynor a small cactus I think. Two thirds in trophy classes at Plymouth. On to Perranporth and win the Pompon championship with Minley Linda, Birchwood and Pop Willo. Second in Small Decorative trophy Lady Linda and Nina Chester and third Small Cactus Gaynor and Majestic Kerkrade. I note back then we had to have two vases of five blooms in these classes. Another Bronze medal at Tintagel again with Risca Miner ended the season.
1983 – CDS main show and win the seedling class with a small decorative from Risca Miner called Delljay Andrew after our son (it was never registered). The giant cactus trophy with a variety called Extravaganza and second in the Pompon championship using Gorden Lockwood, Iris and Willo’s Violet. Season ending again at Tintagel my first Silver medal with the seedling and the bronze for a vase of small cactus/semi cactus Shirley Alliance.
1984 – nothing happened this year, according to the scrapbook.
1985 – two firsts for single blooms at Plymouth, a second and a third in trophy classes at CDS. Two firsts at Tintagel with the Pompon Moorplace and Giant Decorative Kidd’s Climax.
1986 – Andrew helps with the growing, with two of us better quality is achieved. West of England and four trophies won; two vases side by side Pink Kerkrade, another sport from K.K.; mini decorative or cactus Ruby Wedding; small decorative or cactus Courtland Cracker raised by Peter Bateson and again with the miniature decorative Ruby Wedding a blood it was good then but would lack petal in today’s competition.
1987 – the only success of note entered during the year was winning the three times five small cactus/semi cactus at Tintagel with two times five Majestic Kerkrade and one times five White Kerkrade.
1988 – Wadebridge early CDS show and win the North Cornwall Championship with vases of White Kerkrade (S.C.), Camano Choice (pink S.D.), Katherine’s Cupid (pink min ball) and Ruby Wedding (red miniature decorative). Plymouth one trophy for one case of small or miniature dahlias with Camano Choice. At Tintagel the points cup and the silver medial with L’ancresse, before heading off to the CDS main show where the small decorative trophy with five Nina Chester and five Camano Choice. The miniature decorative trophy five Abridge Taffy (white) and five Abridge Fox was the last major win before going commercial.
Growers at the time, some you may remember, included Roger Turrell, Roger Stevens, Harold Wilkinson.