Forfar flower show’s trophy collection has received a new award from a stalwart competitor who has spent more than half a century supporting the historic event.
As she nears her own century, Violet Lawton has gifted a shield to the town horticultural society.
The group is set to mark its 120th anniversary at the end of the month with a Reid Hall show shaping up to enjoy a bumper crop of entries.
Her trophy will go to the best exhibit in the novice section of the show, a recent addition to the competition as organisers aim to keep the event thriving.
Mrs Lawton, now 96, made her first contribution to the showbench in the baking and preserves section around 1970.
Early in her competitive career she won the Town Council Cup for most points in that category and she has continued to win prizes ever since.
Her skills also extended to handicrafts, plants and flower arranging and even tomato growing, but Mrs Lawton’s contribution to the society’s success has also seen her fill vital committee roles through the decades.
At nearly 97, she remains renowned for her baking, but has stepped away from the heat of show competition.
She held the position of catering convener for 39 years, retiring from the role at the age of 85.
“Every Forfar Flower show was a fantastic experience for me, with great people who worked really well together and I loved doing it,” she said.
Mrs Lawton was honoured as a life member of Forfar Horticultural Society and in donating the trophy has special reason to look forward to this year’s Reid Hall event on August 30/31.
Committee chairman, Jim Ewing said: “We are enormously grateful for the contribution which Violet has made not just to the success of the Forfar Flower Show, but also to her personal contribution to the hard-working and happy committee which keeps it running every year”.
The show committee is making determined efforts to keep one of the area’s oldest shows going strong and this year’s event will also include a display of memorabilia charting the success of the event.
Show information for new and regular exhibitors can be obtained on the Forfar Horticultural Society Facebook page.
