Wakefield Paxton Show 8 April 2017

This was a sad day at Wakefield when after 140 years the Paxton Society held its final show. Founded in 1877 it wasn’t the lack of money or exhibitors but the inability to attract enough members to carry out the task of providing the support required to organise and man the two Annual shows which the Society provided. Wendy had been showing daffodils here for nearly 30 years and my father for a similar time prior to that. For Auricula exhibitors it has ended an even longer period since the first ever recorded show for that flower was in April 1807 when the Wakefield Florists Society held its first show and the Paxton Society continued the tradition when the former Society decided to concentrate solely on tulips.
This show was well supported and there were some good flowers, particularly from Steve Ryan and Alan Robinson but several other exhibitors played their part.
there were five entries in the six cultivar collection class won by Steve Ryan who also had the second placed entry and Alan Robinson was third. I have commented in previous years about allowing two entries in collection classes. I don’t think it should be allowed. The first prize entry is second from the right, second  and third on its right and left respectively. Below are photographs of most of the winning entries. Click on them to expand.

Impeccable was the Best Bloom in the show exhibited by Alan Robinson. A few general pictures below including the Society President Norman Hazell making the presentations. If you can help me out with a few names please do so using the reply form below.