Good show! Thousands flock to big town event

With a host of attractions including horticultural and craft competitions, arena performances and displays by local groups and organisations, the show had something for everyone and was blessed with fine weather.

The Shopmobility buggy burn up proved popular with speed freaks, the climbing wall challenge had no shortage of interest and the whole event was overseen by competent compre Mark Butler.

Over in the town show marquee, an amazing array of produce and crafts was on display, writes Samuel Underwood.

From huge pumpkins to tiny shallots, dazzling dahlias to tasty-looking cakes, scary faces made out of vegetables and a ship carved out of a marrow, this year saw a total of 105 exhibitors and 618 entries.

Trophies were presented to the winners by Littlehampton mayor Malcolm Belchamber in the afternoon.

Littlehampton town councillor David Jones, chairman of the West Sussex Association for the Disabled's Littlehampton and Rustington branch, invited Shoreham-based disabled artist Alison Lapper to be a special guest at the show.

Alison, perhaps best known as the subject of a controversial sculpture in London's Trafalgar Square, said: "I was really pleased when David asked me to come to the show. I think this is a superb event. It's lovely because it gets the community together and they realise all the different things that are on in their community.

"People are so busy in their own lives and it's not until they come across a problem or they have a disability that they need help and they ned to know where to get it from.

"There are a lot of disabled people here today who have been given free transport in, which is great. Disabled people are often looked at as being a drain on the community and that's not true. We have a lot to offer the community."

Town show manager Alan Humphrey, who described the show as "the highlight of the horticultural calendar in Littlehampton", said: "I think it was equally as good as last year's show. Entries to the flower and produce classes were down, but it has been a difficult growing season and people concentrated more on handicrafts and the things you can do indoors.

He added: "I'd like to thank the town council for co-ordinating the whole event and all the people who exhibited and visited. We're already working on next year's show, which will be on September 9."

For the full report and pictures see this week's Gazette.