Etchingham village voice

The Church was again superbly laid out with exhibits of flowers, fruit, vegetables, photos, handicraft and domestic items. Vegetables entries were low this year due to the poor summer weather. This year we saw a considerably reduced number of entries, which we hope will be reversed next year, if you have any ideas for any new and interesting categories that could be introduced, please email the committee on [email protected]

If you were looking at the exhibits this year, and thought ‘I had something I could have entered’, think about what you could enter next year and think about what you might grow, make or photograph to enter next year and make next year’s entries better than ever. The committee was pleased to welcome back Monica Fairburn, who is a Kennel Club approved championship show judge. Many thanks to Monica and her words of advice to our dog owners, it was good to see so many ‘child handlers’, and Monica gave them a master class on how to show their dogs, perhaps next year they will be showing their parents how to do it.

This year Paul Collins, manager of the Bistro at the station, presented the trophies, some of the trophies have been awarded every year for 40 years, the larger ones having all the names engraved on for all to see in future years.

The British Legion Cup, for the most points in classes one to 32 was awarded to Mrs R Willard. The Whins Trophy, for the most points in the flower arranging classes went to Mrs L Neve, Mrs Neve also received the Butler Cup for the best flower arrangement. Bobby Baldock collected the MacDonald Shield for the best Gladioli in show. The Wishdown Cup, for the best exhibit in classes one to 32 was awarded to Mrs P Howard, the Warren Trophy for the best entry in the children’s section was won by Max Smith-Morris, the Drivers Cup for heaviest marrow went to Mr C Boylett, the St. jude Trophy for the best handicraft exhibit won by Mrs W Turnbull. The Improvements Committee Cup for the most points in the domestic section went to Miss K Perridge. The Chandler Cup for the best entry in the children’s cookery classes awarded to Frankis Smith-Morris. The Brookside Trophy for the best photographic exhibit picked up by Mrs S Cowlard and the Silver Tray for thr dog with the most points went to Deliah with Mrs S Galiford.

Corrina Hayler and her army of helpers served up teas, cakes and scones with military precision in the tea tent, and Steve Millea and Laurie Webster were on hand for those who preferred to refresh themsilves with Pimms or lager, and it was great to see everyone sitting around enjoying the sunshine, relaxing and catching up. Many thanks to all those who gave up their time to set everything up for the day and clear up at the end of the day. Special thanks must go to all the members of the Improvements Committee, without them it would not happen. Pictures of the Flower Show can be viewed online at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttelyob/sets/72157631478004714/

The Harvest Supper will be held in the Church on Sunday September 30, 6.30pm. Tickets are £6 or £3 for Primary school children and are available from the village shops.

You will be provided with an excellent supper, but you will need to take your plates, cutlery, glasses and drinks. Tickets are limited in number, so get yours as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.

The next edition of the Parish Magazine is now being prepared, this is the October/November issue, but you are welcome to submit details of all your events up to January. Please make sure you send in all your information by September 19, send information to Phillipa Hinde [email protected] 01580 819434.

Robertsbridge Aviation Society have a speaker for their next meeting on Monday September 17. Andy Saunders will talk about the Spitfire MK1 P9374 which first flew on February 23 1940, and was shot down on May 25 1940, having completed 32.05 flight hours. It was recovered during the 1980’s and underwent a massive restoration, eventually flying again on August 30 2011.

The meeting is at Bush barn Robertsbridge, start time 8.15pm sharp, non members may attend, free entry but a donation please, for further information telephone 01424 773428. Many thanks to those who supported the Jumble sale last week, a profit of £263 was made towards the upkeep of the Aviation Museum.

Etchingham does not have any allotments, but Hurst Green does and Etchingham residents are able to take on a vacant plot if there are not any Hurst Green waiting for one. There is currently at least one plot available, a bit late in the year now for getting crops for this year but taking on a plot now would give a new tenant plenty of time to get the plot prepared for the next growing season. If you might be interested in taking on a plot, contact Maureen Harniman on 01580 860251, or if you want to find out more you can contact me, I have one of the plots so can probably answer most of your queries. Priority is given to Hurst green residents, but if none are waiting for a plot spare plots can be allocated to residents of neighbouring villages. If you are not sure if an allotment is for you, get in touch and take a look, you might be inspired to take one on.

Get information for this column to me as soon as possible, if you have a diary of events planned for the year let me have the dates and I will put in a list of village events for the year so that people can put the dates in their diaries. There are several ways to get your info to me, but email is preferred because there is less chance of errors during copying. I need information by 10pm on Monday to be sure it will be in time for inclusion, I can sometimes add extra items on Tuesday morning, but this cannot be guaranteed. Just a little reminder, I get plenty of information about events that are taking place, but I get very little follow up information, after your event try and remember to send me brief account of how successful your event was, it can be as simple as a thank you to those that attended and how much money was raised etc. You can deliver to 2 Park Farm Close, telephone 01580 819532 or 07941 786244 or email [email protected]

Colin Boylett, 2 Park Farm Cottages