At the end of Sunday’s church service, her friend and Finley Show committee member David Webb surprised her in front of the congregation by announcing the honour.
“Most of us know how much Anne has been involved with the show, right from a young lady with horses, and moving into the pavilion with flowers and her talent and expertise in that,” he said during the presentation.
But her support goes beyond just the annual show. Like clockwork, she spends a few hours sitting and watching the action of the annual dog trials in June, and enjoying a chat with competitors.
“Thank you, Anne, for being such a wonderful member of our Show Society,” David said.
Anne’s initial response to the presentation was “oh my goodness”, before going on to thank the committee for bestowing such an honour on her.
“It’s an absolute honour,” she said.
“My family will be delighted.”
Despite saying for a few years that it would be the last year she would enter flowers into the show, she still comes back year after year, but said “this could be my last year”.
Although disappointed that she couldn’t keep the medallion, as it is perpetual, she thought it was special to be wearing the same medal she recalled Mary Dawe being presented with.
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