- Introduction
- A show is born
- The first show
- The 1920's
- Post war years
- The 1950's
- The 1960's
- The 1970's
- The 1980's
- The 1990's
- The new millenium
Clicking on most pictures will show a larger version
Ready for the Show - Billy Swaine and workmate.
Malhamdale
Show 1907 - 2002
The new committee were soon getting to grips with the organisation because the same minute book records a public meeting held in Airton on April 27th 1921 at Scosthrop School to select a committee for a Horticultural Show and Sports.
Mr. Morkill was elected President of the newly formed Malhamdale Horticultural Society and it was agreed to hold The Annual Exhibition on
Saturday August 13th 1921 "in Mr. Metcalfe's field."
The catalogue listed 103 classes of "Plants, Flowers, Vegetables, Butter, Eggs, Bread, Cakes, &c." plus needlework and drawing. There was also Racing, Quoiting
and a Tug of War, but no animals or poultry.
The classes were open to residents of "the Parish of Kirkby Malhamdale and Cowper Cote" and there were two sets of classes. The first 30 classes were open to "Professionals, Amateurs and Cottagers", whilst the remaining 74 classes were open "only to Cottagers". A professional or Amateur being "anyone who employed a regular gardener, and having a greenhouse employing artificial heat other than manure. A Cottager is a person who lives in a cottage and attends his own garden, and is not employed as a regular gardener."
This event was presumably a success because at the next meeting held on 8th September 1921 it was agreed to invite Coniston Cold, Eshton and Winterburn to compete in the next Show.
The last meeting to be recorded in the minute book was held on 2nd August 1922.
The "Second Annual Sports" were again held in Airton on Saturday 12th August, and according to the Craven Herald's reporter, in "favourable conditions". Only the sports were reported, no horticulture is mentioned, despite there being 82 classes attracting a great many entries. The fell race "round Pikedaw" was won by A. Metcalfe of Hawes in 26 minutes. The day's events included Open and Local Trotting, 440 yards, 150 yards and 100 yards races, putting the weight, ladies high jump and children's 100 yards.
Although the day was described by the Herald as very successful financially, accounts for 1922 recorded a small loss: Expenditure £80 12s 5d : Receipts £78 16s 7d : Loss £ 1 15s 10d. There, the minute book, which had been meticulously kept since 1907, ends.
There were apparently no more shows or sports days in Malhamdale prior to the Second World War.
