By Sophie Swain Stand Up For Southport
As Southport Flower Show’s 100th anniversary approaches this August one of the event’s longest-serving gardeners and volunteers reflects on his fond memories.
Terry Tasker has been involved with the show since attending with his wife for the first time in 1973 – although he wasn’t always an avid gardener.
He said: “We never had a garden before and I was never interested in gardening. We had just moved into our new house which had one.
“Shirley, my wife said what can we do with it? I would’ve been happy just to pave it.”
Despite Terry’s lack of interest he and Shirley went along to Southport Flower Show.
He said: “There were crowds everywhere, it was packed. I spent more time looking for my wife than at the flowers! Of course, I just wanted to find the beer tent.”
However, Terry stumbled into a marquee which had a one-way system – he had no choice but to look at the arrangements and exhibitions.
He said: “I got a buzz from looking at all the people winning their prizes and said to Shirley, next year we have to go.
“We started off learning how to grow marigolds, we thought we’d never be able to do it.”
Fast forward to 1974 when both Terry and Shirley came third place in both of their categories, with Shirley taking up floral art and sculpting as a hobby.
Terry Tasker at Southport Flower Show
This sparked their love for flowers and gardening and they attended the show every year with bigger and better entries each time.
“It was in 1981 I went into the marquee and saw the big exhibitions. I thought I have to do that.
“That’s where I met my mentor, Brian Taylor, who taught me how to grow begonias.”
Terry kept going from there, growing more and more plants each time.
Looking forward to the 100th anniversary, and seeing friends who he hasn’t for 12 months, there was a time when the show may never have hit the milestone.
Terry explained how Sefton Council, which used to run the event, came close to shutting the beloved show in 1986 before Terry and 100 other volunteers got together to save it.
“Since then it has gone from strength to strength,” he explains.
“If I hadn’t gone to that first show, what would I be doing now? I can’t imagine.”
Both Terry and Shirley have had life-changing experiences due to their involvement in the show.
“I am privileged for the experience I have had,” he reminisces.
“I’ve taken celebrities on tours of the show, including Carol Vorderman who was not afraid to get her hands dirty.
Terry Tasker and Carol Vorderman at Southport Flower Show
“I have been a president, a judge, a manager and I’m part of the National Begonia Society.
“Shirley was once up a ladder arranging some flowers at Westminster Abbey when someone said ‘they are pretty colours.’ She turned around and it was Queen Elizabeth II!
“We would never have these experiences if it wasn’t for the show.”
With a long growing season, this time of year is the busiest for Terry being involved with three other shows this year, however, he says Southport Flower Show is the ‘icing on the cake’.
“Everyone asks me for advice but there’s no secret, just determination and hard work.
“If anyone is interested in growing, just come up to me and say hello.
“I am 101 per cent all for Southport Flower Show!”
Southport Flower Show. Photo by Gareth Jones Photography
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 Southport-born BBC Radio broadcaster, TV star and DJ Adele Roberts.
For more information and tickets please visit the Southport Flower Show website here.
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