Craft and Produce Show to return to Saltburn

Saltburn is to reinstate its craft and produce show after 50 years to try to get youngsters back to basics. Saltburn Women's Institute (WI) and Saltburn Allotments Association are re-launching the show this summer, and are hoping schools and youngsters put their baking, growing and craft skills to the test.The Saltburn Craft and Produce Show last took place in 1953, but no one seems to have any idea why it ceased.

However, it will be reborn on August 18 this year, and promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Saltburn Women's Institute president Ann Cowie said: "We have decided to bring the show back because we felt there was no competition or competitiveness in schools anymore. We felt this would be a good way of introducing competition to children again, as well as bringing back some of the old values and ways of life that youngsters just don't see now.We are organising quite a large children's section in the show, and are eager to get all the schools and children involved in creating things. So far, the schools have shown quite a bit of interest, as have Saltburn Allotments Association. We are hoping a lot of people take part."

There will be a range of categories in the show for adults and children, including produce, flower arranging, cakes, painting and crafts. Many of the children's sections are based around fun and imagination, such as vegetable animals, gardens on a dinner plate, poster designs, beading and cake decorating. And there will becash prizes for the first, second and third places of each contest.

Cath Lynn, 74, who is assistant treasurer of the WI, remembered the show as a girl. She said she won a prize after the Second World War, with a particularly good raspberry jam one year. "I don't know why the show stopped," she said.

"It's just one of those things that disappeared into the big black hole, I suppose. As far as I remember, it was always well supported."

The show will be held in Emmanuel Church Hall, off Windsor Road, in Saltburn, from 1pm on Saturday, August 18.

Schedules and entry forms will be available in the coming weeks from Saltburn Library, the tourist information office, and Destinations store, in Saltburn Square.