GROW Your Own is alive and well in Biggin Hill as the splendid display of fruit and vegetables made clear at the society’s summer show on July 4.

The heatwave and a thunderstorm affected the number of rose entries but the sweet peas were as magnificent as usual and the scent in the hall was an added pleasure enjoyed by the many visitors who combined the show with the Biggin Hill Festival on the Recreation Ground.

We were pleased to have displays from Cudham and Downe Primary Schools showing the work being done to encourage young gardeners.

The Langton Rose Bowl was won by Margaret Stone who also collected the Allen Rose Cup for the most points in the rose classes.

Anita Jones won the Lee Harvey Award for novices in the rose classes.

Darren Everest won both sweet pea awards, the Brooks Robbins Award and the Sweet Pea Cup.

Margaret Stone’s skill in vegetable growing won her the Harvey Nelson Cup for the most points in this section, as well as the Hallam Coronation Cup for the best exhibit of potatoes, the Howick Cup for gooseberries and the Couchman Cup for the most points gained in the floral, fruit and vegetable sections. Mick Blundell took the Hallam Cup for the best exhibit of fruit, with Les Lyne taking the A C Huitt Cup for the best vegetable exhibit.

Doreen Talbot won the Rose Bowl for Floral Art and Joan Lyne’s fuchsia won the Micklefield Carter Cup. Win Bond won the Domestic Cup and Hannah Arnold won both the Young Gardener’s Medal and the Photography Medal in the junior section, with Ian Cross taking the Photography Award for best exhibit.

We missed the presence and the entries of Derek Weller, one of our keenest members. We were saddened to hear of his death on the afternoon of the show. He will be sadly missed by us all.

The society’s next event is a talk on British Wild Flowers by Dr John Hughes on Wednesday, July 15 in St Mark’s Church Hall in Biggin Hill at 8pm. All are welcome.