RETIRED Fenland businessman Norman Ringham was rather shocked to be among the winners at the East of England Show. Mr Ringham, chairman of the Peterborough and district branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, won the trophy for the best trade stan

RETIRED Fenland businessman Norman Ringham was "rather shocked" to be among the winners at the East of England Show.

Mr Ringham, chairman of the Peterborough and district branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, won the trophy for the best trade stand.

Mr Ringham, of March, said the Clive Osborn Trophy was named in memory of the man who was vice-chairman of the East of England Show in 1984 and 1985, and chairman of the trade stands committee in 1978, 1979 and 1980.

Mary Wilkinson, one of the judges for the award at the weekend, is the granddaughter of Mr Osborn.

Mr Ringham said: "This was our first attendance at the East of England Show and we were rather shocked when Miss Wilkinson arrived to tell us that we had been chosen as the best trade stand.

"The FSB has more than 800 members in our Peterborough branch and we wanted to be able to demonstrate just some of the skills which our members can offer."

"We had space for 12 of our member businesses to exhibit, and also had FSB insurance, banking and recruitment specialists in attendance.

"The judges told us that they were impressed with the range and variety of businesses that were exhibiting with us and were particularly pleased to see how we were offering the opportunity for local small businesses to take advantage of the massive opportunity which the East of England Show offers to them."

"If all goes to plan, we will be taking a larger space next year so that there can be many more FSB small businesses in our marquee.