AS usual, Cheriton Fitzpaine Garden Club’s Spring Exhibition, held at the Parish Hall, was a riot of colour, despite all the recent gale-force winds.

There were 48 pieces of floral art, an exhibition of beautiful black and white photograhs of Dartmoor by Piers Howell, baking, crafts, displays by the Rainbows and Brownies, and a photo display in five categories by any person who wanted to enter.

There was a raffle and our famous teas, with a huge variety of home-made cakes. It was even warm enough for some people to sit outside in the hall garden, lovingly maintained by Roy and Yvonne Clayton.

This year, for the first time, a "Have a Go" Floral Art category was introduced for children, and those adults who had never entered floral art before.

There were 13 entries, nine of them children who had attended a workshop organised by Mary and David Nunn.

Most outstanding entry in Floral Art and People’s Choice in Floral Art was won by Joan Jenner for "Hickory, Dickory, Dock”.

People’s Choice Children’s entry: Lily Cavill for "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary”; People’s Choice for Photography: Paula Mossman for her photo of a kitten; Novice Certificate for Adult Floral Art: Charles Mossman for "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary”; The Nora Tatlow Trophy for the most points gained in Floral Art was won by Chairman Andrew Dean.

A decorated egg was won by Jack Vance; Home-made jam tarts Molly Carr and Verity Gordon; Vegetable Quiche - Yvonne Clayton and Decorated Shortbread - Andrew Dean.

The big shock of the afternoon is that the winner of the Open Class for a Lemon Drizzle Cake went to 12-year-old Cayden Manns (who unsurprisingly has ambitions to be a Chef!

Mary Nunn