Fingers crossed for Shrewsbury Flower Show forecast
Final preparations are taking place for the opening of the landmark 125th Shrewsbury Flower Show tomorrow, as organisers keep their fingers crossed the forecast for good weather holds.
Final preparations are taking place for the opening of the landmark 125th Shrewsbury Flower Show tomorrow, as organisers keep their fingers crossed the forecast for good weather holds.
Highlights this year include appearances by Saturday Kitchen star James Martin and folk group the Oysterband. Preparation work has been taking place in the Quarry for the past few weeks.
The sun is expected to shine on Shrewsbury both tomorrow and Saturday, helping to boost attendance at the show.
Brian Goodwin, chairman of the Shropshire Horticultural Society which organises the event, said preparations have been going well.
"We are well in advance and, because of the reasonably fine weather, we are well up to schedule and are just ready for the exhibitors to start pouring in and placing exhibits," he said.
Mr Goodwin said the positive forecast for the weekend was hugely welcome for the organisers, after the event was hit by rain in the past couple of years.
"It will be the first fine weather for some time if we are lucky," he said.
Members of the horticultural society will attend a special preview evening tonight in the main Floral Marquee.
Celebrity chef Martin will be conducting two live cooking demonstrations. The Yorkshire-born chef, who hosts the BBC's Saturday Kitchen, will use fresh local ingredients to create delicious treats in the Quarry's Marches Foodhall tomorrow and Saturday.
There will also be appearances from TV gardener Chris Beardshaw on hand to give specialist tips and advice.
Among the visitors at the show will be three generations of the same family-run Shrewsbury firm. Aubrey Kirkham Funeral Directors have been stalwart supporters of the show for decades.
This weekend Mr Kirkham will reprise his role as vice president, while his daughter Selina will take responsibility for running the press tent – a role she has held since the 1990s.
Mr Kirkham's elder daughter Leanne Garvey is a committee member who will oversee the Severn and Dingle Pavilions and her children Joshua, nine and Connie, seven, will also be participating.
Meanwhile, Mr Kirkham's wife Ann, daughter of late TV gardener Percy Thrower, has joined the general committee this year.
Aubrey said: "As a family we've been proud to be involved in the organisation of the Shrewsbury Flower Show for more than 60 years, in fact since Ann's father Percy Thrower took up the role of horticultural advisor in 1946.
Every year the standard surpasses the previous year."
Gates will open for members on Friday and Saturday from 8.30am and for the general public at 10am.
Don't miss our Flower Show special on sale in the Quarry tomorrow.
We will also be bringing you full and extensive coverage over the weekend in print and online.
