BCSS Macclesfield & East Cheshire Branch

Newsletter June 2007 - The Wilmslow Show

The 2007 show will take place, as usual at Wilmslow High School, on Sunday 8th July. I anticipate that the show will be open to the public from 11.00 a.m. to about 5.30 p.m. Our Classes are exactly the same as last year and schedules are available. Closing date for entries will be Wednesday 4 July at noon. Exhibits can be staged on Saturday afternoon from 1.00 p.m up to about 8.15 a.m. on Show Day. Usually there are around 15 separate sections under which exhibitors can enter and only one is limited to Cacti and Succulents. Please feel free to enter any of the other sections if you wish. Last year my wife won a first prize in the Cookery Section and one of my granddaughters also won a first prize in the Young People's Cookery.

Show Day is our chance to demonstrate how well we can cultivate our plants and it gives us the opportunity to generate interest in the subject and possibly obtain new members. The more exhibits we can stage the better our display will look to the public. Have a good look around your collections; most of us should be able to enter a few plants. Do not hesitate even if you only feel able to enter one favourite cactus and or succulent. If anyone needs help or advice or has difficulties over transport please phone or speak to any branch member with show experience.

We also need as many plants as possible to sell to the public on Show Day, as this is one of the branch's main sources of income. Any contributions will be gratefully received and again if you have problems over collection or delivery please phone.

I would also welcome any help on the Friday morning 6 July from around 9.00 a.m. until possibly 1.00 p.m. setting up tables etc in the marquee. Help will also be required on the sales table from 11.00 a.m. and after the show again I would welcome any volunteers to help dismantling the tables and stands.

Peter Shakeshaft
Show Secretary

As the years have gone by the Wilmslow Show has become an increasingly attractive day out with lots to see in addition to plants. A great many traders and charities are offering their wares and a steadily expanding feature is the classic car display which is sure to have many of you saying to yourself, and maybe to others, too, "I remember. I used to have one of those." If the weather is warm and sunny, (It will be won't it?) a brief stop at the beer tent may be in order. As Peter says, the Show "gives us the opportunity to generate interest in the subject and possibly obtain new members". There are very few branches in the country who can measure the visitors to their Show in hundreds, perhaps even thousands, so we really have to make the most of it. If you're one of our members who can't manage to meetings are not a "meeting person" you might still enjoy a visit to the Show and have a chance to meet a few of the folks you read about in our Newsletter.

Alasdair Glen

Webmaster's note: Unfortunately the weather was not kind to us in 2007 and the Wilmslow Show was cancelled due to the school playing fields being water-logged after weeks of rain. Peter and Alasdair's comments are still relevant though, as we hope to be more fortunate in 2008. There is more information on the Wilmslow Show website