2021 Show
2020 Show
The committee of the Alfrick and Lulsley Show announce their decision, with heavy hearts, to cancel this year’s show scheduled for September 5th 2020 This is in line with organisations, up and down the country, cancelling events which attract crowds of people. Since social distancing is likely to continue for many more months and the uncertainty around the spread of coronavirus, including predictions of a second wave in the autumn, the committee felt there was no choice.
After seriously considering the implications in taking responsibility for the safety of the village, and the folk that may have attended the show, the committee felt the requirements that needed to be put in place proved to be prohibitive.
However, we are looking forward to a bonanza of a show on September 4th 2021.
Keep the date and we sincerely hope we will be able to meet again on the showground for another great community show.
Rev Anne Potter
Show Chair
2019 Show
President – Claire Sanders
I am honoured to have been invited back to the Show this year as President, after spending 15 years on the committee.
From a young age, I was involved with The Swan Cricket Club with my dad, Pete. When the Swan closed, the cricket team moved to the Fox and Hounds in Lulsley. I was 18 when my dad came home and told me about his new adventure; him and mum were going to buy the pub! I became joint landlady and took the role of managing the pub the week after my 19th birthday, which I did for the next 18 years! From the day we moved in, the villagers welcomed our family and played a massive part in our time in Lulsley. While running the pub, I married the captain of the cricket team (Andy) and we were lucky to bring our children up surrounded by the family of the F&H. I will always be grateful for the staff that made the journey with us; many of whom came back each year to help at the Show and I’m happy to still call our friends. I will also be proud of the money we raised for charity (over 60,000), the beer festivals and being involved in village activities, like the Show – all of which could not have happened without the rest of the family pulling together. I was excited to get involved with the Show as catering manager, having visited through my childhood. We were always pleased to give back to the village that supported us. I have been on many committees and I can honestly say that the Alfrick and Lulsley Show Committee is the best! They are a hard-working team that pull together the most brilliant ‘village’ show every year.
In 2015, I decided I needed a new challenge. I decided to go to the University of Worcester to study for a degree in Physical Education and Sports Coaching Science. Running a pub is a 24-hour job and the years of juggling the family, studying and work finally caught up with me. Making the decision to leave wasn’t as hard as you might think – as a family we were exhausted! We are so pleased to have handed the pub over to another local family who have made much needed changes and are doing well in writing their own chapter at the F&H. I have just graduated with a first-class honours degree and I am now working at the university and loving my new life with more time to spend with Andy, Jess and Will.
I am looking forward to being able to walk around the Show this year with my family. We always joke that in the 15 years that I was on the committee, we had never actually seen the Show! Since leaving the pub, I have tried to stay away from the village as we adapted to a different life and I cannot think of a better reason to return and see everyone again.
2019 Chairman’s Welcome
Welcome to the 68th Alfrick and Lulsley Show!
The Show has its usual variety of arena events, activities and stalls alongside the horticulture tent with its array of exhibits and the Companion Dog Show.
We are thrilled to welcome BBC Hereford and Worcester presenter, Andrew Easton, as our compere.
This afternoon’s entertainment in the arena includes the musical sounds of the Worcester Concert Band, Jane and her team of dancers, circus skill performer Steve Kaos and the parade of Classic Cars. Weather permitting, your ringside viewing will also take you to the skies to watch the acrobatic stunts of a bi-plane and we hope to witness the flypast of a Battle of Britain World War Two Spitfire.
Last year we had fabulous weather and were able to give away around £8,000 to various local charities. This annual show is a wonderful example of villagers preserving rural life and supporting the local community.
We welcome this year’s President, Claire Sanders, who spent many years contributing to the life of Alfrick and Lulsley as an active member of the Show Committee and landlady of the Fox and Hounds, before moving on a couple of years ago. In recognition of her generosity to the community the committee were delighted when she accepted their invitation.
No show like this happens without a great deal of hard work. Each member of the committee takes on a role which they go away and just get on with, reporting to the main committee each month, which makes my role as Chairman very easy and the one who has the least work! On behalf of all who attend the show I would like to extend our thanks to everyone involved from the dedicated committee members to the numerous volunteers who help over the show weekend. This year I would, particularly, like to extend a warm welcome to the 1st Leigh Scout Group as they have taken on running of the bar and, in addition, provided a team of volunteers.
Have a good afternoon and hope you enjoy the annual show.
Rev Anne Potter
2019 Horticultural Show Report: Daphne Fowler/Carol Bradley
An excellent Horticultural Show this year. The marquee looked wonderful and was, as usual, packed with a large variety of colourful entries. A few highlights: 21 displays of tomatoes, an unbelievable 85 vases of flowers, 8 plates of unusual fruits,17 bottles of fruit liqueurs, 8 perfectly knitted baby blankets, 8 superheroes, 7 chocolate hedgehogs and a substantial wooden garden gate! In this digital world, skillful local folks are still gardening, designing, making, baking, painting, knitting and flower arranging in their precious leisure time.
A few statistics: interestingly, notably fewer competitors overall than for some time but many more entries than last year in the vegetable, fruit and flower sections, in fact almost double the number of flowers and vegetables. This is probably due to the warmth earlier in the year and the right amount of rain in August. Very dry and very wet Augusts usually result in a poorer display in the marquee although exhibitors do pull out the stops to put on a good Show, for which we are all hugely grateful. Other sections were mixed: even though it was a good honey year generally, there weren’t many entries: step up, beekeepers! Wine making seemed to have died a death – only 1 entry, temporarily we hope, but damson and sloe gin entries have increased considerably in the last few years. Children’s entries, sadly, have slowly diminished: this year only four entries from the under 4s. Obviously this is dependent on the number of children living in the area but grandparents could have a role here – making Show entries gives the children with something to do and a break from the screens! School holiday dates also have an effect. However our young photographers have come to the rescue: the new class for under 11 year olds proved to be very popular and youngsters also entered the other photography classes so we had a nice display of photographs.
Finally, huge thanks to all who entered and provided our visitors with a brilliant display of our local skills, and for the support and encouragement we receive from the local community. It’s gratifying to continually hear that our Show is generally acknowledged to be one of the best in the area.
2019 Funding Beneficiaries
1st Leigh Brownies
1st Leigh Guides
1st Leigh Rainbows
1st Leigh Scouts
1st Leigh Scouts, Cubs and Beavers
Acorns Childrens Hospice ( Presidents charity)
Battle of Britain Flypast
Broadwas School
Community Choir
Gardeners Club
L&B Badgers
Leigh and Bransford Baby and Toddler Group
Leigh and Bransford Scool
Leigh Explorers
Malvern Hills Lions
Riding for the Disabled
Suckley Scholl
Thursday Club
Village Hall
Worcester Concert Brass – New College
Worcester Wildlife Trust
2018 Show
President – Garth Lowe
Garth 
has lived at Old Storridge for most of his life except for a few years when he worked away with the Meteorological Office, and is forever grateful to his parents who moved here after their marriage. They both came from Worcester so to move out into the countryside must have come as a shock to their parents.
He jokes that although he was most likely conceived at Old Storridge his mother decided that being born at her mothers was a safest bet!
From an early age Garth used the surrounding woods and countryside as his playground learning much about natural history, which has been a theme throughout his life. This eventually led to him becoming the first honorary warden at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s Knapp and Papermill Nature Reserve in the early eighties.
Garth has been connected with the village all his life, being a Parish Councillor for over 40 years. Since he retired in 2002 he has been leading a monthly walk for villagers and friends in and around the parish. He has also taken on the role of Parish Paths Warden helping to keep the public rights of way in good order.
Garth is now one of a select few having lived in Alfrick pretty well all of their lives. The changes have been remarkable, so many things gone and much more now added. He has enjoyed living here with a friendly village community and the show is the one thing that has lasted for more years than he can remember. He has memories of the early years as a lad taking part in the children’s races and the noisy clay pigeon shoot that was also a part of it.
To be able to open this year’s show will be a pleasure and something that had never before crossed his mind. We must all be very grateful that enough residents over those years gave up their time to continue this long and successful event.
2018 Chairman’s Report: Rev. Anne Potter
What a great 67th Alfrick and Lulsley show. It was a great privilege to have Garth Lowe as this year’s President in recognition of his contribution to our local community, especially his monthly walks. And thanks to Mike George for agreeing to compere once again.
This year we had perfect weather and the footfall was probably one of the best, but I’ll leave Phil Hanson, Treasurer to give you the financial success.
Last year, challenged us all round. We had the hiccups of the pizza man not turning up so that Claire Randall and her ladies rescued us last minute by making filled rolls, this year we greatly missed Claire and her team on the bar. It was unfortunate that we were unable to come to an agreement with the Fox and Hounds and that the mobile bar we were recommended could not cope with the numbers. Guess they thought – village show, a doddle – they had a shock!! However next year, all being well, we’ll get it right from within the committee. Watch this space.
As with any event like this it doesn’t just happen and I would like to extend warm thanks to the whole committee for their commitment and dedication to the show. It never ceases to amaze me how the various people on the committee take on their nominated role and just get on with it. I would like to thank Claire Davies, one of our newer members, for taking the AGM minutes tonight in place of our hard-working, dedicated Secretary Linda Fishwick.
It is not just the committee who help make the Alfrick Show such a success – it is all of those who help in other ways, both before the event, on the day, and clearing up afterwards. I would like to thank them all for their involvement but this year I would particularly like to thank Bridget and Gavin Lewis who were very involved with the show for several years and after a break took on the organisation and running of the Grand Raffle which broke all records by selling all 1000 tickets; the Malvern Lions who took on the enormous job of sorting and selling the bric a brac after the group who gave so many year’s loyal service had to give up.
We have received many appreciative thank you letters from the various charities who have received funds – most of them having what they bid for. This is what the Alfrick show is about – raising money for charities (most of them local) whilst providing a community day for people to come out and enjoy themselves. Here’s to the 68th Alfrick show on 7th September 2019.
2018 Horticultural Show Report: Daphne Fowler/Carol Bradley
The weather on show day was absolutely wonderful! Although the cold snap in the early spring and the very dry growing season through the summer meant there were fewer entries in the flowers and vegetables sections, the Show marquee still looked as good as ever, full of vibrant colour and produce.
Carol Bradley has prepared an analysis of the entries and briefly: art continues to attract many entries; honey was well up this year; we had an amazing display of cakes, pies and preserves, and once again the limerick was popular. We struggle to get many entries for handicraft – suggestions please. Although we only get a modest number of exhibits for floral art it does make a beautiful display. There are still good numbers for the children’s classes although we were down in the 12-16 youth section. Any ideas for what this age group would be interested in exhibiting would be most welcome. Photography has remained fairly stable for the past 3 years, and there were some imaginative and colourful collages. Our innovation of asking for The People’s Favourite collage attracted over 130 votes, and was won by a collage awarded only a 2nd prize by the judges.
The judges still tell us that our Horticultural Show retains a very high standard of entries and is one of the biggest in the area. We would like to extend our thanks to the judges, and also to everyone who helped us on Show day, especially all the competitors for providing such a fantastic display of their talents in the marquee.
New and younger members would be most welcome to join the Horticultural Show team as they will bring fresh ideas and energy, so please let us know if you would like to be involved. Owing to a great deal of experience and careful planning, the team works like a well-oiled machine, so the atmosphere in the marquee is usually calm and hassle-free and problems are sorted out quickly. It’s hard work but enjoyable and fun!
When preparing the schedule we review numbers of entries for the previous year replacing classes which have fallen from favour and endeavouring to keep up to date with current trends, to keep the schedule content fresh and appealing.
Finally, please let us know if you have any suggestions for 2019 as new ideas are always welcome.
2018 Alfrick and Lulsley Dog Show: Gwyn Williams
Another great year for the dog show all went extremely well with no problems.
A few statistics for the records :-
77 entries (Dogs) which was only 9 down on last year.
121 entries for the various classes about 12 down on last year.
The cups were awarded on merit and a German Pointer puppy won both best in show and best puppy.
I already have in place for 2019 a dog judge, vet, rosettes and the classes (same as last year).
2018 Funding Beneficiaries
1st Leigh Brownies
1st Leigh Guides
1st Leigh Rainbows
1017 (Malvern) Squadron Air Cadets
Alfrick Church
Alfrick Village Hall
Alfrick WI
Battle of Britain Flypast
Community Choir
Gardeners Club
Hill Trust (Suckley Village Hall)
Leigh & Bransford Badgers
Leigh & Bransford Baby & Toddler Group
Leigh & Bransford School
Leigh Explorers
Maggs Day Centre (Worcester Concert Brass)
Malvern Hills Lions
President’s Charity
Riding for the Disabled
Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal
Suckley School
Thursday Club
Worcestershire Wildlife Trust
2017 Show
2017 AGM President’s report
Thank you very much for inviting me to be President for the Show this year. I am truly sorry that I am not able to be with you this evening.
For me it was an honour, privilege and a special day that will never be forgotten. It was the perfect way for me remember the many happy years that Jonathan and I had been involved with the Show and the exceptional friends and folk who have taken part in it.
It dawned a beautiful sunny day, so unlike 2016, and it was a real pleasure to be there with you all. I thought the stalls, horticultural tent and arena events worked their magic and felt it was a good omen for fund raising towards the many local clubs and groups that the Show supports.
I wish you all the very best.
Ginnie Wilkinson
President 2017
Chairman’s Report as delivered at the Annual General Meeting 2017
It has been a real privilege to have been the Chairman of the 66th Alfrick and Lulsley Show. Last year when Mike and I got home after our first meeting as new committee members Mike said ‘what did you go and do that for – you’re busy enough’. I replied that I had been assured everyone knew their jobs and just got on with them therefore this was not going to be an onerous task – Chair the meetings and perhaps deal with a few bits and pieces. How right. It has been a real pleasure to work with such an amazing committee of people who work so hard to ensure the Show happens.
This year we were blessed with good weather which helped tremendously in raking in the people and the funds which have been allocated to several charities with whom our great band of volunteers are associated. Once I have finished treasurer Phil Hanson will give you a financial report including the monies raised on Sept 2nd and what funds were subsequently allocated.
It was generally a very happy show – the odd hiccup like the pizza man dropping out, or overloading the power supply – and for that I would like to particularly thank the various committee members and the band of willing helpers who year in year out come along and lend their support. Every bit of help is appreciated – from those who give a lot of time and energy to those who offer an hour on the gate.
During the year I have learnt so much about the history of the show and how it runs with each committee member or members taking responsibility for the many facets behind the organisation. Whilst I cannot thank everyone by name I would like to express my gratitude to Linda Fishwick, who has competently, behind the scenes, held my hand during what has not been an easy year for her family wise.
Finally, we were thrilled to have Ginny Wilkinson as our President this year in recognition of her and Jonathan’s dedication to the show over many years.
If anyone feels they would like to join this wonderful band of committed (they must be) people on the Show Committee please do not hesitate to put your hand up – speaking from experience it can be very rewarding.
Reverend Anne Potter
Chair, Alfrick & Lulsley Horticultural Show & Fete
2017 AGM Horticultural Show Report
2017 AGM Dog Show Report
| 2017 Alfrick & Lulsley Horticultural Show & Fete beneficiaries |
| 1st Leigh Brownies
1st Leigh Guides 1st Leigh Rainbows 1st Leigh Scouts Alfrick & Lulsley Gardening Club Alfrick & Suckley Toddlers Alfrick Church Alfrick Model Car Racing Club Alfrick WI Branches Disabled Adults Broadwas Bumble Bees Community Choir Cystic Fibrosis Ward, Heartlands Hospital Hill Trust (Suckley Village Hall) Leigh & Bransford Baby and Toddler Group Leigh & Bransford Badgers Leigh Explorers Leigh & Bransford School Local Horse Charity Malvern Hills Lions Monday Night Club President’s Charity – ‘What makes them different makes them beautiful’ Ravenshill Wood Riding for the Disabled Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal Samaritans (on behalf of Worcester Concert Brass) Suckley School Thursday Club Village Shop @ Alfrick Worcestershire Wildlife Trust |
2016 Show
Joint Presidents – Bridget & Gavin Lewis
It is a great privilege to be joint Presidents for the 2016 Show. We are excited to find out what the committee have lined up for us all to enjoy and having previously been involved with the Show for 14 years, with Bridget as Chairman for 12 of those, we know of the hard work and dedication it takes to get to this moment.
In those 14 years we made many friends, across the village and beyond, seen children grow and become volunteers themselves, and have had sad losses from the committee and the community. There are of course many memorable stories, like the year of the ‘floods’, with both showground and car park under water, which saw the Show shrink to fit in and around the Hall, all set to a steel drum band! Another memorable year was when the President lost her treasured earring and asked us to look for it – a needle in a haystack came to mind – and so we undertook a final sweep across the field, and in the last few feet there it was! The Show has enjoyed many aerobatic displays, most unusual for a small village, and delivers fantastic arena events year after year, a Dog Show for all shapes and sizes, great local food and drink and the Horticultural Show continues to evolve to keep pace with modern trends.
So you can see that this Show is much more than just what you see today, it’s a great get together for family and community, an opportunity to make friends and to be a part of something amazing. We are proud of our village and what can be accomplished to make such a special day for so many people.
Bridget and Gavin
:
Chairman’s Report
Anticipation grew throughout the year with new and exciting attractions being added to the event programme. Thursday/Friday in the build up to the day the weather conditions, as they had been for weeks, were good and fine but oh…….
Show day and what a huge disappointment on Saturday to wake to a damp, dull, dark and rainy day. Oh well, as in past years we were sure the clouds would break and the powers that be would look favourably upon us with SUNSHINE. Sadly that was not to be; however the great British resolve was evident in abundance as our loyal visitors donned their wellies, waterproofs and brollies to enjoy a great day out, no matter what the weather.
We were delighted to welcome Bridget and Gavin Lewis as Presidents for 2016 in recognition of the significant contribution they have both made to the huge success of the show over more than a decade.
Despite the poor weather the show was a success and many people had a great day, being entertained by a range of events in the arena. Cyril the Squirrel had us all in stitches at the antics of his performing terriers. Not at all put off by the weather we are extremely grateful to the belly dancers who must have been thoroughly chilled in their costume as they danced their way through a full routine and even posed very professionally for photographs complete with brollies!
As was expected because of the poor weather conditions the flypast and aerobatics were not permitted by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Phil Hanson our Treasurer very efficiently looks after all matters financial. The main headline is that gate entry was significantly down to the tune of 49% adding to the pain of a 26% fall in attendance in 2015, again due to poor weather. That, together with the rising costs which we face each year has impacted greatly on any profits being available to distribute to local good causes. With a significantly reduced figure at our disposal the committee agreed to introduce a bidding process, inviting previous beneficiaries to apply for funding.
As always with this community several organisations indicated that they would not be applying for funds to enable us to look favourably upon those groups and organisations that rely upon our contribution each year. On behalf of the committee I would like to thank them for their generosity in putting others before themselves. This truly epitomises the community spirit hereabouts.
I am delighted to report that the defibrillator project is now complete. The equipment is available, in a secure temperature controlled cabinet, which is located on the outside of the Village Hall, right in the heart of the villages. Again, a heart warming demonstration of community cooperation.
Although our aim is to raise funds for local organisations the main purpose of the committee is to provide an exceptional village show for local people. I am proud to be a member of a group of people who achieve that aim year on year. The enthusiasm, energy and commitment of the show team knows no bounds.
To the whole committee, thanks as always for your determination to get the job done – you are a real credit to this community.
Annette Smart
2016 Chair
28 November 2016
Horticultural Show:
586 Entries
112 Competitors
2016 SHOW BENEFICIARIES
Total amount donated to local charities – £1,870
All bids for funding received were satisfied as below
| 1st Leigh Rainbows |
| Alfrick & Suckley Toddlers |
| Branches Disabled Adults |
| Clover Aps, World Challenge |
| Leigh Brownies |
| Leigh Explorer Scouts |
| Leigh & Bransford Mothers & Toddlers |
| Riding for the Disabled |
| Suckley School Fund |
| Suckley Village Hall |
| Worcestershire Wildlife Trust |
| WRVS Thursday Club |
Table of winners
|
Cup/Trophy |
Classes |
Winner
|
| F.E. Bumford Show Cup
|
Highest points in Show | Charlie Hodges |
| The Joan Barker Trophy | Highest points in
Sections B, D and E |
H.M. Sims |
| Alfrick Horticultural Show & Sports Coronation Challenge Cup | Highest points won by residents of Alfrick & Lulsley in Sections B and E | H.M. Sims |
| The Bill Collins Memorial Cup | Highest points won in Sections C and F | Charlie Hodges |
| Edith & Jack Oliver Cup for
Best in Show |
Award by Show Judges for
Best single entry in Sections A-F |
Bob Oliver |
| The Leigh & District Gardeners’ Club Trophy | Section A, Classes 1-5 | Charlie Hodges |
| The New Coronation Cup
|
Section B, Classes 6-13 | H.M. Sims |
| Ravenhill Challenge Cup
|
Section C, Classes 14-32 | Charlie Hodges |
| The Frank Clift Challenge Cup
|
Section D, Classes 33-37 | Charlie HOdges |
| Berrow’s Worcester Journal
Challenge Cup |
Section E, Classes 38-43 | Janet Craddock |
| Greenleaves Rose Bowl
|
Section F, Classes 44-47 | (Dave Webber) |
| The Alfrick & Lulsley Horticultural Show and Sports Cup | Section F, Classes 48-52 | Terry Witherall |
| The Greenleaves Trophy
|
Section F, Classes 53-65 | Linda FIshwick |
| “The Talbot at Knightwick” Trophy for Home Made Wine | Section G, Classes 66-70 | Patricia Turner |
| The Hop Pocket Wine Trophy
|
Section G – Best individual wine/cider/perry | Derek Bradley |
Alfrick & Lulsley Show Honey Cup
|
Section H – Classes 71-76 | Gillian Bolton |
| Alfrick & Lulsley Horticultural Show Women’s Institute Challenge Cup | Section I, Classes 77-93 | Suzanne Mealings |
| The Alma Stodart Cup | Section I, classes 89-91 | June Crockford |
| Certificate for best Floral Art | Section J classes 94-96 | Helen Cook and Daphne Fowler |
| The Bernard and Honor Brooke Memorial Cup | Section K classes 97-99 | Thomas Exton |
| Alfrick & Lulsley Horticultural Show Art & Craft Cup | Section L, Classes 100-102 | Max Wilding |
| The Greenleaves Junior Trophy
|
Section M, Classes 103-105 | Mairi Driscoll |
| The Alfrick & Lulsley Parish Council Junior Craft Cup | Section N, Classes 106, 107 | Hayley Strain |
| The Alfrick & Lulsley Horticultural Show Junior Art Trophy | Section N, Classes 108, 109 | Nathaniel Newitt |
| The Charles Grant Memorial Trophy
|
Section O, Class 110 | Bruce Tasker |
| The Alfrick W.I. Jubilee Challenge Cup | Section P, Classes 111-113 | Katie Clegg |
| Alfrick & Lulsley Parish Council Craft Trophy
|
Section Q, Classes 114-118 | David Williamson |
| Certificate and £25 prize
(pre-school children) |
Section R, class 119 | Alfrick & Suckley Toddler Group |
| Portman Building Society Trophy
Schools’ and Children’s Groups (school age children) |
Section R, Class 120 | 1st Leigh Beavers |
Total no of cups = 27