Village flies the flag to back Armed Forces

The theme of this year’s East Bridgford Show, which attracted more than 1,000 visitors, was red, white and blue — in keeping with Armed Forces Day on Saturday.

The show began with a parade from St Peter’s Primary School to the show field on College Street.

Most of those taking part were dressed in red, white and blue and carried either the Union flag or flag of St George. Characters included the Queen and Prince Philip and Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

One costume depicted the royal yacht, Britannia.

The parade was piped on to the field by the Seaforth Highlanders Band.

Activities included hook-a-duck, skittles, archery and donkey rides.

There were performing clowns, face-painting, a bouncy castle and a helter skelter and go-kart racing on a track with inflatable sides.

There was also a red, white and blue-themed scarecrow-making competition.

Village clubs, societies and local charities manned stalls.

Among the organisations promoting their work was the Grantham Canal Society whose members are working to bring the waterway back into use.

Exhibitions included classic and vintage cars and tractors and a steam engine. The village’s Mill Heyes Farm was there with cockerels, chickens and sheep for children to pet.

There were two flypasts in the afternoon, one from the Dakota aircraft of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the other by helicopters from the Historical Army Air Corps.

The main ring events were a fancy dress contest, tug-of-war, egg throwing, Bingham School Of Dance, It’s A Knock-out, East Bridgford Martial Arts Club, Dako Flyers gymnastic display team and a family dog show.

The show chairman, Mr Chris Stammers said: “It has been a fantastic turnout.

“As always we have a great deal of help from within the village in organising the event, which is now in its 145th year.

“We wanted to get behind Armed Forces Day.”

A horticultural show ran alongside the main event.

One of the organisers, Mr Michael Clarke, said the judges were pleased with the quality and quantity of entries, which were up on last year.

Trophies: Dr L. Owen Taylor challenge cup for section one (open to all residents) A. H. Smith challenge cup (best vegetables) Arthur Mason challenge trophy (potatoes), Ray Marsh memorial cup (best pot plant) Chapman memorial trophy (vegetables): R. Kirkland; Ingall challenge trophy (sweet peas) F. T. L. Green memorial cup (second highest points in section one): S. Crawford; A. B. Shipman memorial cup (soft fruit), Adlington rosebowl (best exhibit in show): Mrs S. Henwood.

Cottagers cup (most points in section two — open to non-professionals and those who have not won three first prizes at the show before): B. Whysall; Ned Crossland memorial bowl (flowering plant section two): Mrs E. Meylan; Duff Memorial cup (best floribundas) Charles Farmer memorial cup (roses) Mr and Mrs George Blagg cup (best floribundas) Mrs M. Conway; Mulberry Farm cup (best exhibit in section two): C. Ellis; Frank Knight cup (most points section two): won jointly by C. Ellis and Mr and Mrs Stammers.

Gertrude Fox challenge cup (cookery or preserves): Mrs Ruth Curtis; Gourmet cup (men only): C. Henwood; Greenwood cup (handicrafts): Mrs Pat Hill; Marjorie Arnfield cup (painting): Joanne Pycroft; Audrey Metcalfe cup (flowers): Mrs Claire Stammers; Miniature garden cup: Jake Woolls; Patricia White cup: Jessica Marston; Peter Waring cup: Jake Woolls; Under-eight cup: Hema Syal; Under-five cup: Sophie King.