By Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
A much-loved Southport gardener who has been exhibiting at Southport Flower Show since the 1960s has been awarded two more trophies – while a fellow exhibitor has created a statue in his honour!
Alan Foxall, owner of Simply Flowers and Foliage, has once again impressed judges and visitors alike with his beautiful design inside the Grand Floral marquee.
He has worked with Steven Johnson to create a display of foliage and flowers to celebrate 100 years of the Southport Flower Show.
It includes a table of chairs set for a celebratory tea party, including a bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne; a huge ‘celebration cake’; piles of ‘birthday presents’; and a giant celebratory birthday card from King Charles III.
They were awarded The Lady Pilkington Trophy for The Display That Best Depicts The Theme of The Show; and a Large Gold Medal.
At a stand nearby, Bridge Inn Community Farm has created a life-size papier-mache statue of Alan to pay their tributes to one of the icons of Southport Flower Show for so many years.
Alan Foxall, 72, a former Nurseries Manager for Sefton Council, said: “I first came to Southport Flower Show when I was 15 years old, with the Southport Borough Council Parks Department.
“I have been doing the past 11 years on my own.
“I have been exhibiting at Southport Flower Show for a long time!
“I am very honoured to have a statue of me appearing at the show. I would like to thank the staff and students at Bridge Inn Community Farm for making it.
“It is the first time I have ever had a statue made of me!”
Alan has been looking forward to this year’s show.
He said: “For Southport Flower Show to reach its 100th anniversary is a fabulous milestone to reach.
“I think it has been a lovely atmosphere this week. It has been really busy.
“We have had some fantastic comments from members of the public coming to see our display.
“I would like to say a big thank you to the organisers of Southport Flower Show.
“This event takes a huge amount of hard work to organise.”
Cheryl Craven from Bridge Inn Community Farm said: “Alan Foxall is a legend at Southport Flower Show.
“When we were designing our exhibit for the show, looking back at the past 100 years, we all said we have to include something about Alan.
“He has made such a huge contribution to Southport Flower Show over so many years. We felt if we were creating anything looking back over the history of the event, then he had to be included within it.”
Alan Foxall has been exhibiting at Southport Flower Show since 1967, having a passion for gardening and flowers from an early age.
He earned a formidable reputation as the Nursery Manager at the Botanic Gardens in Churchtown for 46 years and joined the Southport Chrysanthemum Society at 18 years old.
Alan has won a huge amount of trophies at Southport Flower Show over the decades for his bright and hugely imaginative designs.
In 2023, Alan won a Large Gold Medal to add to his extensive collection of trophies after he created a ‘flower bed’ – a colourful and playful bed and bedroom made from flowers.
This year’s display is around 18ft (five metres) and in the centre there is a birthday cake.
At one end there are be boxes wrapped in birthday paper, with big bows tied around them – like a birthday present.
At the other end, there is a table with afternoon tea on it, champagne glasses and more.
Around the cake, the colours are pastel, with pinks, whites and silvers. It then transitions into hot colours like gold, green and oranges.
The display also includes a tribute to the three young girls who were killed in the Hart Street tragedy recently.
Southport Flower Show, sponsored by Seventy Ninth Group, is the UK’s largest independent flower show and attracts over 55,000 visitors every year. It will take place over four days from Thursday 15th August to Sunday 18th August 2024.
Southport Flower Show will have some special guests this year from the likes of Adam Frost of BBC Gardeners’ World, David Domoney of Love Your Garden and CBBC’s Blue Peter and CBeebies Star Justin Fletcher.
It will be officially opened by BBC Radio broadcaster, TV star and DJ Adele Roberts.
- For more details and tickets for Southport Flower Show please visit: www.southportflowershow.co.uk
- Contact: James Comish Designer: James Comish & Anthony Major www.jamescomish.co.uk info@jamescomish.co.uk 07447 692948 Sponsored by: L&T Hire & Supplies Ltd
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