Castle Horticultural Society's late summer Show, held in the Conference Room last Saturday, was a light-hearted occasion where high- quality exhibits could be enjoyed by all.

Fine wine and scarecrows helped to achieve this: visitors were welcomed by a display of flowers and vegetables, watched over by a traditional scarecrow with outstretched arms and a shirt that would flap about in the breeze.

At the top of the stairs, they were greeted by Tony De Crows, with his wiry hands and flowerpot head - and there were others watching over the exhibits...

An ample Charlie Dimmock sat on a chair, chatting with the friendly man from the St John Ambulance and a "tall man in blue" leaking straw from several places, kept a watchful eye on the trophies.

As visitors wended their way through the exhibits, they came across a fine selection of home-made wines to taste and nibbles kindly provided by Douglas Bowers.

Two comprehensive collections of police badges and old secateurs had been put on display by the senior steward, Tom Cromie.

There were many colourful exhibits: several new classes ensured there were many vases of flowers to admire and the dahlia exhibits were of a high standard.

The judges praised the quality and presentation of the exhibits, with the cookery judges ticularly impressed by the way the preserves had been presented.

The society was delighted to have Joan Marston to present the trophies. Joan recently resigned from the show committee after at least 20 years, for much of which time she was custodian of the trophies, responsible for their collection, distribution and display and for making sure they were engraved.

Now a life member, it seemed fitting that she should give away to this year's recipients the trophies she has cared for. She has been a winner of several of them and hopes to repeat this success in the future.

Winners were:

President's Trophy-vase of mixed flowers, Julie Dennis; Bob Gray Memorial Cup-runner beans, Mike North; Tom Dicken Memorial Cup-onions, Peter Marston; Anniversary Trophy-fruit, David Selby; The Bignell Trophy-pot plant, Mavis Casson; Bernard Scarborough Cup-dahlias, Clive Felstead; Paul Griffith Trophy-roses, Stuart Dennis; Patricia Trophy-floral art, Rosemary Sign; Geoffrey Horsey Challenge Cup-preserves, Pamela Fuller; Cooke Trophy-cookery, Julie Dennis; Barrie Hazlitt Trophy-photograph, Clive Felstead; R&R Trophy-CHS holiday photo, Julie Dennis; Banksian Medal-vegetables, fruit and flowers, Yvonne Cooper; Garden News Top Tray-vegetables, Mike North; Top Vase-flower, 1st Julie Dennis; 2nd Christine Ross; 3rd Yvonne Cooper.