Parish Show

Deddington Flower Show, to give the Parish Show its former name, has a long pedigree. First held as early as 1838 in the Town Hall upper room, it then moved to the Manor and later to the Castle Grounds. You only have to look at the pictures of the 1920s and 30s in the  Flower Shows Album in the Gallery to see it was a major event, as much Gala Day as flower show. An occasion to dress up in your best hat, cheer on the sack football match, have a go on the hoopla stall, listen to the brass band – and enter the hat trimming competition. Interestingly the photos show the funfair side of the show and the visitors, not the produce from what must have been flourishing local gardens.

The organising committees were formed of the great and the good in local society: the Vicar, the incumbent of Deddington Manor, the local schoolmaster – and exclusively male. (Left: The President, Vice-President and Hon. Sec. take tea at the Castle Grounds)

Flower Shows under the old format lasted until 1963. Why did they fall out of fashion? Maybe no more reason than changing times …

After a lapse of 45 years the Parish Show was revived in Deddington in 2008, initially combined with the Church Christmas bazaar to see what the response was. Since then it has stood on its own and has proved a popular and well-supported annual parish event. More modest in scale than the earlier Gala days, it features produce from local gardens and allotments, and showcases the skills and talents of our cooks, artists and craftsmen. Profits from the event are distributed around Deddington groups: in 2015 the school and the Windmill Thursday Lunch Club each received £250.

There are 60 fork to fork classes: flowers, vegetables and fruit, baking, jams and preserves. And another 22 for the artistically inclined: embroidery and handicrafts, photography and painting. Classes are open to all-comers, including children, and there are also another 20 classes open just to children from 5 to 15, in four different age groups.

More pictures of the Parish Show in the 2000s are available in the Flower Show Album

Deddington man wins medal at the Chelsea Flower Show 2005

Charles Barker won a silver gilt award for a stand that celebrates the achievements of his Grandfather; Amos Perry.