The year 2000 Annual Show of the Scarborough & District Fuchsia Society took place at our usual venue, Scalby Parish Hall, over the August 12-13^th  weekend. Despite the usual worries prior to the Show deadline about the number of entries, to our great delight numbers were well up. What a splendid way to start the new millennium, 296 was the most we have had for quite a number of years. A magnificent achievement in view of the extremely dull weather conditions we had to endure for most of the 'summer'. With a number of new committee members involved this year their enthusiasm seemed to have rubbed off on other members and the Society can be really proud of all the participating exhibitors who made this Millennium Show so special. The hall was once again filled to overflowing with wonderful plants. Some requests for late entries even had to be turned down. The overall standard was excellent, though once again it must be said that we are in this respect extremely lucky to have amongst our ranks David Edmond. Even at National Shows he comes away with armfuls of silverware so we are delighted he still manages to find the time and plants to support our own show to such an extent. In the basket class his Linda Grace was outstanding, and deservedly won 'Best in Show'. If we had a prize for runner-up to best in show, then his other basket, of Caradella, would undoubtedly have won that. And, a third superb basket was donated for the Saturday raffle, creating added interest and welcome funds. Well done David. We are really chuffed though that David, winner of the Victor Ludorum for gaining the most points in the show again, was not the only star of the show.
An outstanding performer appeared this year in the beginners' ranks, Amy Tubbs. She put in a couple of excellent plants in the 5" pot classes for beginners and, as it had been so hard to decided which plants to enter, she decided to double up in the corresponding novice class. The plants truly stood out and scooped 1^st & 2^nd prize in both sections!! Paula Jane just pipped Baby Bright in the beginner's class and another Baby Bright beat Pink Fantasia in second place in the novice class. Quite remarkable, but deservedly so, the plants were fantastic. Amy was of course really pleased, and gained two special crystal Millennium bowls, which were awarded for the best in each of the main sections this year. Not only that, but she also managed to win the raffle for the beautiful fuchsia cardigan!! (This cardigan was lovingly made and very kindly donated by Margaret Bendall, a wonderful and much appreciated gesture.) The amazing thing was though that husband Bob nearly didn't let Amy take the plants!!! Unexpectedly caught out with other demands on his time, he tried to get out of the job of having to ferry the plants to Scarborough (they live in Driffield, not exactly on the doorstep) by dismissing them as probably not good enough anyway. Well, we certainly are delighted that Amy managed to persuade Bob otherwise! The plants were a great talking point at the show and so was the framed embroidery of fuchsias that Amy had brought along to be displayed. Personally I have never seen such good Baby Brights, a cultivar which is not easy to grow. Again, well done Amy!!
A second remarkable tale concerns another relatively new member of the Society. Tom Tindall, a pretty competitive person, thought he should not be upstaged by his daughter-in-law, Carol, after she scooped best in beginners' classes and the trophy for best in classes 1-15 with a superb Thalia at last year's show. He was sure he could also grow a good Thalia. (And other good stuff besides). Late spring I noticed how his Thalia and a plant of 'Twinkle Toes' were already shaping up very nicely. (Mike Oxtoby rightfully remarked that the judges "had been asleep", overlooking that 'Twinkle Toes' had been wrongly named. It is of course Waltz Jubelteen, which some unscrupulous traders had tried to rename more appealingly, even though another cultivar with this name already existed). As the season progressed Tom encountered a few headaches along the way as the plants, that were grown outside fully exposed to the elements, were blown over on a number of occasions. If that wasn't bad enough, imagine the consternation to see, a few days prior to the show, the beloved twosome, now in full flower, completely struck down! Mrs Tindall, ever so sensibly surely, decided a slightly blowy day was ideal for pegging out the washed duvets on the line. This happened to be right near the fuchsias that were then unceremoniously knocked to the ground! Oops! Still, the plants survived - we never noticed the missing branches!! When the entry forms had to be submitted, Tom had also been 'somewhat displeased' that his plants could not be entered in the beginners' classes as his pots were too big. However Carol (what a good sport) persuaded him to enter them in the novices and open classes. After all that, imagine the delight when his Thalia got a red card in the open class, ahead of David Edmond!!!! His other plant got a first too. Two entries, two firsts, what a debut, and that at the age of 83!! So, you see, one is never too old to have a go. And here is another tip. If you want to encourage some folks to have a go at exhibiting fuchsias, do as I did, give them a few cuttings to try their luck with and make sure to include Thalia!! Carol winner last year's and Tom's Thalia came from the same batch! (Oh-oh, where did I go wrong with mine!!!)
At the other end of the age spectrum we saw young Adam Bailey winning the Children's class yet again. Adam at the ripe old age of 13 is now becoming an old hand at this show lark and we are delighted that he has branched out into the novices' classes. He has his own little greenhouse and grows about a dozen plants, under the watchful eye of granddad Peter Long. Adam has his sights set high and tries to pick up as many tips as possible  continued on next page