Our heritage

1930s
6 March 1933
First official meeting/AGM. View the Show announcement letter
19 & 20 October 1933
First Show on Thursday & Friday. Total attendance 1538. View a congratulatory letter
19 March 1934
2nd AGM. Balance sheet showed a surplus of £83 2s 11d
24/25 October 1934
2nd Show on Wednesday & Thursday. Total attendance 2,208
23 September 1935
Show cancelled due to a reduced number of entries. This was attributed to bad weather earlier in the year and recent gale damage.
7/8 October 1936
1st show where judging takes place on Tuesday. Total attendance 1856
1938
Show abandoned due to severe frost damage
1939
Show cancelled due to outbreak of WWII View the cancellation notice letter
1940s
14 May 1940
Emergency War Committee formed. Show postponed for the duration of the war
27/28 October 1948
After an absence of ten years, the fifth annual show. Attendance 2477
1950s
26 October 1952
1st public post show event with the fruit being re-staged at Selfridges, London, prior to this the fruit was always sold at auction
29 October 1953
Royal Visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
1960s
13 March 1967
Change of name to The Marden Fruit Show Society. Previously The Marden & District Commercial Fruit Show
1970s
October 1972
First Bonanza Prize – A Berthaud 1500 Spraying Machine
1980s
October 1980
First Handbook
October 1984
Royal Visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
1990s
October 1992
Show moves to the Kent Showground at Detling
1999
Show relaunched as The National Fruit Show
2010s
October 2013
Show celebrates 80th Anniversary Event
October 2014
Show venue now the Maidstone Exhibition Hall featuring new Fruit Display and expanded exhibitor space

Telephone: 07983 534442 info@nationalfruitshow.org.uk
National Fruit Show, The Marden Fruit Show Society, 45 St Lukes Road,
Maidstone, Kent ME14 5AS

The National Fruit Show is organised by the Marden Fruit Show Society CIO,
registered charity number 1168291 ©2025 Marden Fruit Show Society Terms of use