A GROWER who has been displaying his gooseberries since he was 17 was awarded a plate at the Over Peover show, despite entering no berries for the first time in 65 years.

Noel Street, 82, has always lived in the village and was presented with a plaque – fittingly decorated with gooseberries – on Sunday.

The award recognised his achievements over the past six-and-a-half decades, which were not to be overshadowed in this, a difficult growing season.

Noel had been in hospital earlier in the year battling pneumonia, and a combination of pests and the weather wiped out his crop.

Daughter Ruth Bass, who tried to maintain the berries, said: “I helped out and all was looking good until the beginning of July when they started to need more attention daily and sometimes hourly.

“They were attacked by wasps, mice and squirrels as well as the weather. Dad was unable to get to them and he had four or five left with two weeks to go to the show but just couldn’t manage to keep them.

"He attended the show but he couldn’t exhibit. He was bitterly disappointed as he has always produced good berries, but he said ‘never mind, there’s always next year’ and he was really pleased with the plaque and a bottle of whisky he received.”

Peter Lofthouse retained his title as top grower at The Dog Inn with a Millennium berry weighing 29 pennyweights 14 grains, with Richard Okill in second place also with a Millennium at 26.08. His son, William, produced a Newton Wonder berry of 21.11 to take third.

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James Wild Cup for heaviest premier berry: Peter Lofthouse
Alpine Lager Trophy for championship plate: Richard Okill
Harold Gregory Trophy for heaviest twins: William Okill 
Margaret Watson Trophy for most points gained: Richard Okill
R.L. Massey Rose Bowl for heaviest red premier berry: Les Stanier
Joe Tatchell Trophy for heaviest white premier berry: William Okill 
Ken Hall Memorial Trophy for heaviest green premier berry: Matthew Parkinson
Roy Taylor Challenge Cup for 2nd premier berry: Richard Okill
Bernard Pickup Trophy for most improved grower: William Okill
Jean Street Trophy for most points in colours only: Richard Okill
Premier berry: 1st - Peter Lofthouse (Millennium), 29.14; 2nd - Richard Okill (Millennium), 26.08; 3rd -William Okill (Newton Wonder), 21.11; 4th - Les Stanier (Christine), 20.17; 5th - Matthew Parkinson (Bankview), 16.22; 6th -Ian Greenhough (Just Betty), 15.12; 7th - Gary Stanier (Firbob), 11.06.
Twins: 1st - William Okill (Montrose), 36.09; 2nd - Richard Okill (Millennium), 31.21; 3rd - Peter Lofthouse (Woodpecker), 31.15; 4th - Matthew Parkinson (Just Betty), 22.19; 5th - Ian Greenhough (Montrose), 22.03; 6th - Les Stanier (Christine), 11.05.
Red: 1st - Richard Okill (Just Betty), 20.19; 2nd - Les Stanier (Just Betty), 20.09; 3rd - Peter Lofthouse (Just Betty), 17.16.
Yellow: 1st - Peter Lofthouse (Millennium), 28.06; 2nd - Richard Okill (Montrose), 23.21; 3rd - William Okill (Montrose), 21.04.
Green: 1st - Richard Okill (Bank View), 19.14; 2nd - Les Stanier (Bank View), 16.19; 3rd - William Okill (Allostock), 15.00.
White: 1st - Peter Lofthouse (Bellmarch), 23.16; 2nd - Richard Okill (Jodrell White), 22.22; 3rd - Les Stanier (Newton Wonder), 20.05.
Championship plate: Richard Okill
Red plate: Richard Okill        
Yellow plate: Richard Okill
Green plate: Richard Okill            
White plate: Richard Okill    
Most points gained: Richard Okill (106); William Okill (82); Peter Lofthouse (68).