ORGANISERS of a dale vegetable and flower show say they are looking at new venues for next year’s event due to the “dire” condition of the village hall.
The Middleton-in-Teesdale Chrysanthemum and Vegetable Show started in 1941 and was originally held at the Wesleyan Chapel school room.
It moved to the village hall in the late 60s.
However, members of the garden association, which runs the autumn show, have said they will be forced to look for a new venue next year unless repairs and improvements are made at the village hall.
Mary Elliott, treasurer of the Middleton-in-Teesdale Chrysanthemum and Vegetable Show, said: “If they don’t do something about the state of this place we’re going to have to look at other places.
“The roof is leaking and when we got in there was water all over the tables and the floor in the main hall.
“Fortunately we hadn’t set up any of the entries, but if we had they would have been ruined.”
She added: “We were lucky that it wasn’t raining on show day as we wouldn’t have been able to go ahead if there was water all over the floor.
“It would have been a real health and safety issue.”
In addition to the state of the roof, she said for the second year there were no stage lights and there were holes in the glazing to one of the side rooms.
The village hall is owned by Durham County Council and leased to the village hall association.
Julian Robinson, chairman of the village hall association, said he was aware of the condition of the village hall and agreed something needed to be done about the condition of the building.
He added: “The roof is basically at the end of its’ life. It’s had it and when it does get a bit of rain it does come in.
“It really needs a new roof but there are plans to demolish it and rebuild a new one.
“But if nothing is in place by the end of the lease we will not be continuing with it and we’ll be giving the building back to Durham County Council,” he said.
“We definitely need to get something new in place.”
As for the show itself, chairwoman Liz Beadle said she was delighted with the quality and quantity of entries.
She said judges had had a tough time deciding on the winners in the children’s classes as the standard was so high.
Ms Beadle added it was great to see new entrants into the chrysanthemum classes and hoped “one day soon” to see new names added to the trophy list.
John Grey, who has been competing in the show for the past 37 years, picked up the Middleton Football Club trophy for best chrysanthemums.
He hopes he will have as much success next week when he enters them in another show near Darlington.
For the second year in a row Anthony Coatsworth’s selection of oversized vegetables earned him the Silver Cup for most points.
His enormous marrows tipped the scales at a combined weight of more than 77lbs (35 kilogrammes).
Green fingered Ken Ebden was delighted his trio of onions helped him to pick up a trophy he’d been keen to win.
He explained that following his brother Harry’s death, the family donated the trophy to the show. Since then he has been trying to win it and has finally succeeded.
After being presented with the Harry Ebdon Trophy he said: “I’m over the moon that I’ve finally managed to win this trophy. I’ve been trying for ages.”
In the handicraft section June Dent and Anna Johnson, neck and neck on overall points, were declared joint winners of the Mrs K Teward Silver Cup.
In the photography section Michael Wallbank walked away with several trophies for his stunning desert shots.
Cup Winners
Three curved chrysanthemums: John Grey. Five decorative reflexed chrysanthemums: Anthony Coatsworth. Five blooms, japs barred: John Grey. Three Decorative incurved chrysanthemums: Anthony Coatsworth. Middleton Football Club best chrysanthemum: John Grey. Silver cup for most vegetable points: Anthony Coatsworth. Harry Ebdon Trophy for three onions grown from seed: Ken Ebdon. The Sinclair Cup for best vegetable exhibit: Anthony Coatsworth. Garden News shield for globe beetroot: Anthony Coatsworth. The Don Parker Plate for collection of vegetables: Anthony Coatsworth. The Cassell Consultancy Rosebowl for best houseplant: Sam Pickering. The David Silver Cup for most points in floral arrangement: Rebecca Collinson.
The Mrs PD Wearmouth Silver Cup for more points in produce classes: Grace Crawford. Mrs AM Sayer Crystal Bowl for best exhibit in produce class: Grace Crawford. The Mrs K Teward Silver Cup for most point in handicraft class: June Dent and Anna Johnson. Middleton Cricket Club for most points in photographic classes: Michael Wallbank. The Sandy Dempster Cup for best exhibit in photographic classes: Michael Wallbank. The Corner Shop Cup for exhibitor with most points in children’s classes: Lily McBain. The Mrs K Teward Trophy for best exhibit in children’s classes: Lily McBain. The Mrs M Lawson Trophy for best children’s handwriting: Poppy. The Mrs K Teward Trophy for children’s best painting: Rook.
