27 Dec “Mind your leeks!”

It must have been 2014. It was Saturday late and I’d left Alan Gabrielson to look after the exhibits (exhibitors get cards and sign in and there’s always someone in the marquee if an exhibitor is there). Anyway, I went down with Barbara to my allotment at Cabbage Hall, St Helens (which I’d had since 2006), and picked about 15 leeks that looked likely for the Show. I was going to choose four to enter. Show leeks aren’t topped and tailed, but we’d top and tail the others for eating. Barbara did that.

Barbara Silcock: As soon as I’d cut them, I knew what I’d done. I’d cut the Show leeks! They were ruined.

Keith: Of course, it got all round the Show.

Barbara: People were shouting “Mind our leeks!” when I showed up. Keith: They would have won something, those leeks.