Something for everyone at Sherfield-on-Loddon Show
Pat Harding with her First Prize Carrots. Ella Elphick, 12, with the entry that won her First Prize in the "Any Article of Handicraft" section
It wasn't just a day for prize petunias or marvelous marigolds at the Sherfield-on-Loddon Show. The long-standing annual village event was able to produce far more - beating previous years by a mile. Record entries contested in a colossal 90 categories included fruit and vegetables, cookery, photography, miniature gardens and scarecrow masks. Special guest Basingstoke MP, Andrew Hunter, was on hand to present the successful entrants with their prizes after the judges ran a careful eye over each submission. One local who fared well in the vegetable category was Richard Elphick, a member of the committee that stages the show. But the event was not just for the competitive growers. Many locals entered simply to “join in the spirit of the occasion”. Afterwards, many entrants donated their entries for auction to raise money for the village's mother and toddler group. Combined with the takings from the raffle, a plant sale and refreshments, the day's total amounted to £250. Chris Horton, one of the organisers, said: “The day was lovely. It is important that everybody enjoyed themselves. It is nice to keep the village tradition alive”.
Published: Basingstoke Gazette 7-Sep-2000
