Southport Flower Show winner Alan Foxall

THE winner of the top award at the Southport Flower Show accepted his trophy just hours after his father passed away.

Alan Foxall received a phone call yesterday morning to say that his beloved father, Eric, had died aged 97.

At lunchtime, Mr Foxall bravely returned to the flower show to accept the prestigious Brockhouse award for best in show.

Mr Foxall, who works at Churchtown’s Botanic Gardens, won the award along with his colleagues. He told the Daily Post: "This award is a wonderful tribute to my father. I went to his nursing home when I got the phone call at 9.30am, but I had to come back here for this. He would have been so proud.

"Dad had been ill for the last 12 months but he had deteriorated in recent weeks and passed away peacefully. To win this is a fitting tribute to him. He used to help me a lot and he was a great supporter.

"It is very hard being here but I will try and enjoy the rest of the show because I know that is what my father would have wanted."

This year’s festival was officially opened by former Coronation Street actress Suranne Jon, who spent the day working her way through the bustling crowds, admiring the exhibits and chatting to members of the public.

She told the Daily Post: "I think there has been a fantastic atmosphere and there is so much to do here. When someone says ‘flower show’ you think it’s just going to be plants, but it is a really good day out."

Horticultural experts and Southport Flower Show patrons David Bellamy and Stefan Buczacki were also on hand to judge competitions and offer advice. Both of the celebrity gardeners agreed that the standard this year was higher than they had ever seen before, and their thoughts were echoed among those exhibiting.