The Milford on Sea Flower and Produce Show had a very generous stock of awards which we have inherited, some go back over 75 years. Awards are presented at the show and kept for one year, after which they are returned and made ready for the next year’s winners.
The Challenge Cup
This was first awarded in 1953 and presented to the exhibitor that had gained the most points in the Vegetable, Fruit and Flower Classes. This remained the criteria until 2013 when it became the cup that is presented to the exhibitor with the most points in the whole show.
The Lucey Bowl
First presented in 1950 to the Best Exhibit in the Floral Decoration Classes. Throughout the years this has always been given to the exhibitor with the best exhibit in various Floral Art Classes and remains the same today.
The Dorothy Nightingale Cup
First presented in 1953 it was given to the exhibitor who had won the most points in the Vegetable and Fruit classes, BUT “Who is an amateur gardener and employed in work other than gardening not less than 40 hours a week and employs no paid labour”. This changed in 1954 to be “Those who employ regular paid labour of less than 8 hours a week or no paid labour”. This changed by 1956 to the most points in Vegetable class only, but the rule remained the same.
This was unchanged until 1973 when it was given to the exhibitor with the highest points in the Flower Section. In 2025 it has changed to the winner of the most points in Vegetable, Fruit and Flowers Sections.
The Weatherhead Cup
The Weatherhead Cup was first presented in 1954 and presented to the exhibitor with the most points in the Vegetable and Fruit classes with the virtually the same criteria as the Dorothy Nightingale Cup. This was sorted out by 1956 when it was awarded to the winner of the most points in the Vegetable Section which was open to all. This remains the same today.
The Polson Cup
The Polson Cup was first awarded in 1958 to the exhibitor who had won the most points in the Fruit Classes. This has remained unchanged throughout the years.
The Patterson Produce Cup
The Patterson Produce Cup was awarded in 1965 to the exhibitor gaining the most points in the Produce Classes. This has been unchanged for 60 years.
The Danby Cup
First awarded in 1971 the Danby Cup was presented to the exhibitor with the best arrangement in the Floral Art Classes. This varied over the years and today is awarded to the exhibitor gaining the most points in the Art Classes
The Joan Weatherhead Cup
This cup was first presented in 1974 and was given to the exhibitor who had won the most points in the Vegetable and Fruit Classes, BUT who had not won a prize in those classes for 3 years, or was a newcomer to the show. This was changed in 2011 so as to be awarded to the exhibitor with the Best Entry in the Vegetable Section. Newcomer or old hand. In 2025 it changed to the exhibitor with the best entry in the Fruit Section.
The Molly Miller Cup
This cup was first presented in 1982. It was awarded to the exhibitor who had won the most points in the Floral Art Classes. This has remained unchanged.
The Helen Cookson Cup
First awarded in 1982 this cup was given to the exhibitor who had won the most points in the whole show, BUT was a Resident of Milford. This was the case until 2011 when it was changed to the Children’s Group, School or Organisation that had won the most points in the Vegetable, Fruit and Flower Sections. This changed in 2015 to be the winner of just one class a Scarecrow. This was changed again in 2024 to be the winner of the most points in the whole “Fun for Children Class”.
The George Dowland Cup
This was first presented in 1985 to the child that had the Best Entry in the Children’s Section. There doesn’t seem to have been a section for children between 2005 and 2009. In 2011 it was changed to be presented to the child that had won the most points in the whole show.
The Fairbank Rose Plate
The plate was first presented in 1989 to the winner of the class exhibiting one Specimen Rose Bloom. This has remained unchanged over the years.
The Margaret King Cup
This cup was first presented in 1993 to the exhibitor with the best entry of the class exhibiting Cluster of Floribunda Roses. This changed in 2010 to the best entry in both the Cluster and Single Flowered Stems classes. This remains unchanged today.
The President’s Cup
First awarded in 1996 the President’s Cup was awarded to the exhibitor with the Best Entry in the Annuals Class in the Flowers Section. In 2025 it changed to the exhibitor with the most points in the Flowers Section.
The John Pither Cup
The John Pither Cup was first awarded in 1999 and given to the exhibitor with the most points in the Hand Craft Section. This has remained unchanged except for the change in title to the word “Handicrafts” in 2015
The Jim Asher Cup
The Jim Asher Cup was first awarded in 1999 to the exhibitor with the Best Entry in the Vegetable and Fruit Sections. This was changed in 2013 so as to be given to the exhibitor with the Best Entry in just the Fruit Classes. In 2025 it reverted to the exhibitor with the Best Entry in the Vegetable Section.
The Hatchard Bowl
First Awarded in 1999, the Hatchard Cup was presented to the winner of one of the classes in the Floral Art Section. The name was amended to be The Hatchard Bowl in 2001. In 2025 it changed to the exhibitor with the best entry in the Flowers Section.
The Liz Jones Cup
The Liz Jones Cup was first presented in 2012 to the exhibitor with the Best Entry in the Vegetable, Fruit and Flower Sections who was a newcomer to the show. In 2025 it changed to the exhibitor with the most points in the Poetry/ Prose Section.
The Photography Frame
The Photography section was only started in 2013 and in 2016 an award was presented to the exhibitor with the most points in the Photography Classes. This has not changed.