Dalbeattie Flower Show returns thanks to DGHP

Dalbeattie’s Civic Flower and Produce Show took place on Sunday, thanks to a grant from Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership’s Community Pride Fund.

The event, which was last held in Dalbeattie Town Hall in 1989, was a great success and organisers say it wouldn’t have been possible without the £1000 grant from DGHP’s Stewartry District Management Committee (DMC).

A sub-committee of Dalbeattie Civic Daze decided to try and resurrect the show after a gap of 22 years.

DGHP’s Stewartry DMC supported the event with an award of £1000 from this year’s Community Pride Fund.

The money was used to purchase three new trophies, prize award certificates and costs for advertising and printing.

The show was a tremendous success with more than 500 entries in several categories.

Seasoned vegetable grower, Albert Muir, who formally chaired the show committee, said the event was the busiest show he had attended in the last 10 years.

Alison Elkins, head of the event sub-committee, said: “The event was a great success and it has given the community of Dalbeattie a real boost.

“We are ever so grateful for the money from DGHP’s Community Pride Fund as it made our event possible.

“We would also like to thank everyone else who contributed and sponsored trophies for the event. Also thanks must go to the committee for all their hard work, before and during the event.

“We are hopeful now that the show will run again in future years.”

Pat McTaggart, Chair of DGHP’s Stewartry DMC, added: “It was a great honour to be asked to present all the trophies to the winners. I was pleased to see such a good turn out from the local community to support the show on the day.”

The show was officially opened at 2pm by Civic Daze Chairman, Jim Dingwall, followed by the trophy ceremony at 3.15pm, with trophies presented by Pat McTaggart, Chair of DGHP’s Stewartry DMC.

The raffle proved very successful, possibly due to a top prize that was kindly donated by celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh. The raffle proceeds will go towards the cost of next year’s show.

Alison added that the committee members were particularly delighted with the number and quality of the children’s entries, which numbered more than 150.

“There was such enthusiasm for the baking section that one keen competitor had baked through the night to clinch a trophy,” added Alison.

In the coming weeks the committee will be working towards next year’s schedule and hope that even more people will be ‘growing and showing’ for 2012.

The Community Pride Fund was first established to encourage tenants and others to work together to improve local communities around Dumfries and Galloway,

VEGETABLES