Wraxall Village Club Flower Show

We have recently come into possession of an interesting trophy. The trophy has the following engraving.

Wraxall Village Club
Flower Show
Presented by the Ladies
of
Wraxall
1930

The Wraxall Village Club was originally created by Victoria Gibbs for the recreation and betterment through education of the workers of the Tyntesfield Estate at Wraxall. This ‘Education’ took the form of reading newspapers and books (Approved!) cards and other sedentary games as well as more physical pursuits such as cycling, cricket etc…

Amongst the many activities of the club was the Wraxall Village Flower Show.

Although the name ‘Flower Show’ reflects some of the horticultural competitions of the show, it was also a competitive place for other competitions, such as handicrafts and home-crafts, which included cake making, jam and other preserves and children’s classes.

The trophy and its recipients

Around 1930, the ‘Ladies’ of Wraxall gave the trophy to be presented to the person with the most points awarded in the home-craft classes.

In 1930, it was first presented to Mrs H. Tavener. The wife of Harry Tavener.

In 1931 the trophy was shared between Mrs H. Tavener and Mrs F. Cook, the wife of Frank Cook, the owner of the saw-mill.

In 1932 the trophy was presented to Mrs A. Pearce, who continued to win it every year thereafter, until the show ended a few years later. After which she was allowed to keep it.

As was the accepted custom in those days, married women adopted the Christian name of their husbands. Everyone new Mrs A. Pearce as Molly. Her husband was Arthur Charles Pearce. Arthur worked for Frank and Agnes Marshall at Ham Farm, Ham Lane, Wraxall.

Molly and Arthur lived in a terraced cottage in Wraxall, until the early 1950’s when they moved to ‘Hill Croft’, Tower House Lane. Arthur used to grow rows of Dahlias, many ended up as floral displays at Wraxall church. They had 2 daughters: Mary and Brenda. In due course the cup passed onto her daughter Mary.

Mary very kindly displayed the trophy at the Wraxall Millennium show. This was a ‘one off’ very successful flower show to celebrate the year 2000.

Mary had no children, so the cup eventually ended up in the possession of her sister Brenda’s son, Nigel, who very kindly donated the cup to us.

We had a close association with the Wraxall Flower Show. Many of the officers at the time were committee members for both societies.

We are very pleased to receive this trophy and look forward to presenting it to a worthy winner next year.

Below is a photo from the the Wraxall Village Club Flower Show 1933. One of the years Molly won the cup.

Thank you to Nigel and Jane & Bill Knight, who helped with writing this page.