TYSOE FLOWER SHOW & FETE by Bridget Norton
Today is Tysoe Flower Show Day! Oh no it isn’t… The third Saturday in August has been devoted to Tysoe Flower Show for as long as most of us can remember, but thanks to Covid-19, for the first time in nearly 60 years we have had to cancel our traditional and much-loved country show. So it seems a good moment to look back at the history of our annual jamboree and winkle out some of the memories nestling in our community. We are in the process of compiling a history of our Show and, thanks to the help and information already received from long-standing Tysoe residents, we are well on with the project. However, there are still gaps in the timeline, and we are especially interested to hear of any Flower Show memories, so if you can help, do get in touch via The Record.
Tysoe Flower Show is one of a group of local summer shows, and arguably the best, certainly if you consider the quality of the produce of our master growers, cooks and creatives, and the popularity of our attractions on what is nearly always a fine August day. The origins of the Show are hazy (we are still in search of early records) but there was certainly a Tysoe Horticultural Society in 1903 as the wonderful photograph below attests. This group of trophy winners includes the renowned Joseph Ashby and Mr Styles, probably the Mr Styles who was the Compton Wynyates miller. We know the Flower Show was thriving in the 1920s and 30s but then there was a break in proceedings until an energetic committee resurrected the Show in 1962, initially in aid of the Village Hall, and subsequently to support local organizations and provide a good afternoon’s entertainment.
An endearing feature of the Flower Show is the extraordinary continuity over the years. While we are always adding new attractions and some have disappeared, probably for reasons of Health and Safety, e.g. bowling for a live pig, much remains largely unchanged. We still have an amazing horticultural and produce show, a dog show, children’s races, Morris dancers, a brass band, delicious teas, sideshows and, for many years now, a vintage vehicle display. What’s more, delving into the archives has highlighted some surprisingly consistent themes over the years as the following extracts demonstrate:
“FLOWER SHOW: Accounts have appeared in our local papers, so that it is merely necessary for one to state that it was a great success. In fact, I shall imagine Tysoe kept up a reputation which I believe it has long enjoyed of growing the best vegetables for many miles around.”
“Another pleasing feature of the Show is the fact that apparently all the exhibitors were quite satisfied both with the arrangements in the Tent, and also with the careful decisions of the judges. I have heard of no grumbling or complaints worth mentioning. This is highly satisfactory, for it is no easy matter for a Committee to please everyone.”
If it weren’t for the somewhat archaic expression, these comments could have been written much more recently than 1929 and 1932!
The dress code, on the other hand, has certainly relaxed over the years. Note the swishing skirts of 1912 and the brilliant array of hats in 1926.
See you on 21 st August 2021 (unfortunately due to Covid we did not put on the 2021 show either) and in the meantime, please get in touch if you can help with the history project.