Huge leeks more than six inches in circumference, giant onions the size of footballs, foot-long carrots and a rainbow of blooms and flowers have brightened up Barrow town centre for years.
The Barrow and District Horticultural Society annual show saw green-fingered residents show off their finest produce to bumper crowds, with more than 500 people turning up at Forum 28 in September 1998.
As well as flowers and vegetables, there were displays of embroidery, homemade jam and wine.
HAPPY: Conner Teijlingen-Bell, then 12, from Barrow, at the 2008 show, where he won many rosettes. The picture was used by The Mail to help preview the 2009 show, where Conner was the children’s champion.
The society was founded in 1909 and the show had kept going every year, even through the first and second World Wars.
Roy Spittle, the society’s chairman and show manager, said: “There have been some particularly good entries and a crowd as big as last year. This is not just a flower show. It is a real Barrow tradition.”
In 2009, dazzling dahlias took top honours at the society’s 100th annual show.
PRIZE: George Batty won the National Chrysanthemum Society bronze medal at the show in 1998
Dahlia grower Kenny Barker, of Barrow, was awarded the Blue Ribbon prize at the show.
Mr Barker’s lilac dahlias were judged best in show.
The Green Rosette for the reserve best in show went to Danny Hillman, of Dalton, for the best collection of six vegetables, for which he had already won the North-West Evening Mail Challenge Trophy.
WIN: Bryan Roberts, who won the Evening Mail Shield for the best single bloom in show for his chrysanthemum in 2009
Mr Hillman, who won six trophies on the day, said: “It’s been smashing. I’m very pleased.”
The hall at Barrow’s Park Leisure Centre was filled with the vibrant colours of gladioli, chrysanthemums, fuchsia and dahlias.
The judged were impressed by the quality of exhibits.
POSE: Holly Carling, seven, at the show in 2009
The North-West Evening Mail Shield for the best single bloom in show went to Bryan Roberts for his chrysanthemum.
There were prizes in floral art, home industries and in handicrafts such as knitting and photography.
SHOW: Secretary Beryl Rollinson picked up three trophies for floral art at the show in 1998
The children’s section included baking, embroidery, handwriting, art and characters made from vegetables. The children’s champion was Conner Teijlingen-Bell.
To mark the 100th anniversary there was a display of programmes and photographs from past shows. The show went down as a great success.
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