About the Shows and venues

And the development of the Society

Ambleside is situated in the Lake District at the north end of Lake Windermere, surrounded by the wonderful Lake District fells.

This society started in 1942 when the Home Guard first introduced the idea of a Flower show, which was then called the Ambleside Flower and Produce Show. It was held once a year in the local halls. Since then the society has grown from strength to strength, with a large range of trophies in many different classes.

In 1990, when the 48th show was reached, it was decided to introduce a second show earlier in the year, which became known as the Ambleside Daffodil and Spring Flower Show, a two-day event now held over a weekend in March, usually in the Kelsick Community Centre in the town. Progressing to even bigger things, as the Society's 50th anniversary approached the Summer Show was expanded into the outdoors, using marquees on Ambleside Rugby Club's ground, to run over three days instead of two.

The Summer Show now takes place indoors and out on the rugby field allowing space for three large marquees for horticultural exhibits, trade stands and crafts, plus a catering tent and a tent for model makers exhibits. There is also plenty of open space for trade pitches, which usually include nurserymen, outdoor clothing, confectionery, tools and garden furniture.

The Summer Show has become one of South Lakeland's major annual events and a delightful showplace for the many talents of local residents.

The Society relies heavily on the community for support and is ever grateful to those who sponsor the shows, donate trophies, prize money and their valuable time.

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A Brief History

Written for the 50th Jubilee Show in 1992
by Des Bates

The Ambleside Flower Show was started by C Company of the 9th Westmorland "Lakes" Battalion Border Regiment Home Guard. In the summer of 1942, the show was held in the Assembly Rooms, Ambleside and was a three-day event. The show continued as a Home Guard event until the Home Guard was stood down at the end of 1944.

When this happened all the funds that had been accumulated had to go back to the Border Regiment, as part of the Regimental Funds. A new Committee had therefore to be formed to run the show and this is when the Ambleside and District Allotment Association joined forces with some of the old Home Guard members, and it became the Ambleside Flower Show and Allotment Association. The Allotment Association had run throughout the war to assist the "Dig for Victory" campaign, and had bought seeds and fertilizers and help for the Allotment holders.

I think it was about 1950 that the Allotment Association went out of existence, and the name of the show was changed to the present one of "The Ambleside Flower, Produce and Handicraft Show", and the cookery and Handicraft sections came in and we had a Ladies Committee who ran these two sections. The Committee was made up of President, Chairman, Secretary, Ladies Secretary, Treasurer plus the men's and ladies committees, as usual the Ladies always were more equal, as they used to attend the committee meetings but the men did not attend the Ladies meetings when they arranged their schedules.

The show was supported by a strong list of Vice-Presidents who were made up of anyone who made a donation of half a guinea or more and were the main stay of the show until this last few years, there was never any membership and anyone who was interested could attend the Annual General Meeting, and get put on the Committee.

Over Five years ago we needed a new President, and this was when Peter Howarth took on the job. Peter breathed new life into the show, and became a very active President; he got sponsorship in as the main stay of the show. He was also the driving force to get the Spring Bulb Show started, and to become such a success.

It is also to Peter that the credit must go for getting this 50th anniversary show put on in its present form, the amount of work he has put into the show is unbelievable and must be greatly admired.

The show has had a number of venues, it started off in the Assembly Rooms it then moved to the Queens Pavilion, then for one year to the Junior School, then for several years it went up to the Old Church then known as St. Anne’s Hall. When that venue became unavailable the next move was to the Old Junior School which by then had been altered to its present form and now this year for the 50th Anniversary to the Rugby Football Field.
Now due to circumstances beyond our control we had to move to Grasmere Showground in 2004, this site is much larger and can give us more scope.

Our list of Presidents since its Home Guard days have been Mrs Hedley, Mrs Hargreaves, Mrs Harrison-Broadley, Mr Fielding, Mr Geoff Hayes, Miss Howard-Smith, Mr Peter Hayes, and Mr. Peter Howarth.

The Secretaries have been Mr Joe King, who was the Home Guard secretary and then carried on for a number of years. He was followed by Mrs D. Dixon who was the show secretary and also Ladies Secretary, Dr Land then took on both posts for one-year. Mr S. Prickett then took on as secretary to be followed by Mr W. Campbell, Mr S. Prickett then stood in again for a year or two to be followed by our present secretary Mr D. Capstick.

The Ladies Secretaries have been Mrs D. Dixon, Dr Land, and Miss Susan Hebden, who became Mrs Fielding, Mr Swinburn, and Mrs Travis.
The post of Treasurer has been held by Mr. J. Palfreyman, Mr. R. Gibbs, Mr Clay, Mr G. D. Bates, Mr I. Capstick and Mrs J Fry our present treasurer.

In the days of the Allotment Association, Two Points Cups were competed for. These were the Open Cup for most points, and the Allotment Holders and Cottage Gardeners Cup for most points. The latter cup was dropped several years ago when the interest in allotments dwindled.

The show has a magnificent list of cups and trophies for both the Annual Show and the Spring Bulb Show. Let us hope that the show will go on for many years to come.
Many thanks to all the people who have worked and donated time and sponsorship in helping to run the shows. With out this the show might have folded long time ago.