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The GFGS Stand at the Malvern Autumn Show 2016

At about 12 midday on Friday 23rd September 2016 the troops gathered (Alan Cursue, Stuart Rowe and Tom Price) at my house for lunch having arrived with vehicles packed with plants/baskets etc. At about 1300 hours having been able to find room in our vehicles for the plants Alan had arrived with he returned home whilst the rest of us set off for the Malvern Showground. We started to put together the GFGS Stand. With the frame erected and covered in black material and the banner hung, the display boards were then positioned at either end of the stand, we then placed a large half circle in the centre to raise plants supplied by Tom Price, which when finished actually filled the rear of the display nicely for us, thanks Tom.

We then covered the two remaining tables and positioned them in the centre of the three back ones, finishing off the display with other basketed plants, with four school baskets towards the front.

I along with my long suffering wife arrived bright and early on Saturday 24th to allow time to put out information literature on a number of topics, including information supplied by member clubs and societies.

The schools taking part were,

Belmont Special School, Cheltenham, Glos.
Bourton on the Water Primary Academy, Bourton on the Water, Glos.
Churchdown Village Junior School, Churchdown, Glos.
Naunton Park Primary School, Cheltenham, Glos.

Other baskets and plants were provided by the following,

Cheltenham & District Allotment Holders Association (basket provided by Rosemary Smith)
Cheltenham & District Orchid Society (numerous plants provided by Tom Price)
Cotswold Fuchsia & Pelargonium Society (2 baskets provided by Robert Champion)

During the day the stand was visited by a number of people who were very interested in what we were trying to do to involve schools and the benefits provided for our member clubs and societies. This year we had also experimented with a ‘Virtual Gardening Competition’ for schools!

Once again we arrived early on Sunday 25th to put out information literature again because if it’s left out overnight it gets damp!

The baskets were judged over the weekend by members of the Federations Guild of Judges and the results were as follows,

Gold - Churchdown Village Junior School, Churchdown, Glos.
Silver - Bourton on the Water Primary Academy, Bourton on the Water, Glos.
Bronze - Belmont Special School, Cheltenham, Glos.
Bronze - Naunton Park Primary School, Cheltenham, Glos.

At 4 pm we started to take the stand down, and as usual it came down a lot faster than it went up!

And finally, our congratulations to all students who took part in the competitions and my thanks to all involved in supplying exhibits, setting up, stewarding, judging and taking it all down at the end, without their help and hard work we would not have produced a stand which was admired by many attending the show.

It also potentially gained a few new members for Affiliated Societies, a new speaker, enquiries about grants for school gardening clubs and interest in our ‘Guild of Judges’.

I remind members that if your Club/Society has space at your show and can provide a 6′ by 2′6″ table (approx.) if we can we will attend with a small information display stand, for more information please contact me, details below.

I would also appeal to Clubs/Societies to send me a copy of their Show Poster/Schedule and any other information that we could put on the website and display on the stand.

This information can be emailed to me at gfgs@cheltenhamorchids.org or by snail mail to me at 15 Lapwing Close, Northway, Tewkesbury, Glos, GL20 8TN.

Rod Wells.

You can also see pictures from earlier shows: