HIGHBURY SOUTH ALLOTMENT SOCIETY ANNUAL BARBECUE AND SHOW 2025

Highbury South
Sep 20
2 min read

Highbury South Allotment Society held its annual barbecue and show on Sunday 7th September. The weather forecast was of rain in the afternoon, but it kindly waited until the Show was over, and we managed to get the main marquee stowed away before showers fell.

We had about 50 attendees, including members, family and friends.

The numbers were a little down on last year, possibly because our event was on the same day as the Great North Run. Last year, gardeners had to contend with damp, whereas, this year, the problem was drought. Nevertheless, some fantastic produce was displayed. The overall winners and detailed results are shown below. Winners of individual competitions for art, plot numbers, poetry, produce, art displays and preserves are shown below.

Thanks to David, Jane and Joe for putting on the usual splendid barbecue, augmented by food and beverages brought along by guests. David commented that although there seemed to be less guests this year, about the same amount of food was eaten. Well-done, guests! Thanks to Meryl for organising the raffle which raised £223, to Leon for reading out the raffle winners in inimitable style, to Ruth for recording competition results, to Mai Linh for judging the jams, marmalades and preserves, to Pip for judging the poetry, and to Emma for judging the allotment-related art works. Thanks also to the many volunteers who helped us to set up the Show and dismantle it in the rain, led by Chris.

Congratulations are in order for winners (Show names based on entry slips). Those shown in italics will receive gardening tokens as prizes. Detailed results for each category can be found in a separate spreadsheet.

Best gardener based on overall scores : *

1st Martha and Ayrton Mounsey

2nd Bob and Ruth Heyman

3rd School

Produce display on a tray:

1st Meryl Wakeman

Jam, marmalade and preserves:

1st Meryl Wakeman

2nd School

3rd Fiona Clarke

Art – under 17s:

1st Rory Mattok

2nd Lucy Dye

Art – 17+:

1st Monica Shaw

2nd Alan Dordoy

3rd Pam Brown

Plot signs:

1st Carol Smith

2nd Liz Hodgkinson

3rd Colin Dewdney

Poetry:

1st Lucy Dye

2nd Pam Brown

3rd Anne Noble

The results of the main Show competition were modified after a recount.

Bob Heyman and Stephen Tyrer, 13/09/25

Newcastle Allotment and Garden Festival 2025

The city has 61 allotment sites with 1,2 & 3 prizes for 8 different categories and our Highbury South 3 members won 3 prizes out of a potential 24 prizes.

Pam went along to The Exhibition Park to support them receiving their awards and got these photos.