WAGS NEWS
July 2004
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WAGS NEWS July 2004 |
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New in This Issue
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Regular Items
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Chairman's Piece
When I look back on the past three months, I hardly know where to start. So many things have happened - some very pleasant and others very sad. I suppose this is probably a reflection of life in general and also in gardening and nature. The growing season is well under way, bringing lots of beauty, bounty and happiness, and also some disappointments and sadness. The same could also apply to our society and the store. The committee are a group of people who work well together and are willing to help and organize where necessary and members have come up trumps in offering help and assistance in the store. Several people are now regulars and a wonderful help, for which we thank them very much, but with holiday time looming, a few more helpers would be most welcome. On the sad side, we have lost several of our stalwart members of many years; Ron Moore, who was, I am told, one of the very early members; Jim Ozanne, who was also a long standing and very regular user of the store; and now, Peter Hallett who died on Sunday 13th June, such a short time after giving up as store manager, which he did so faithfully over the last five years. A great loss to the Society. I feel sure that all members would join me in offering our condolences to all their wives and families at this very sad time and especially to Brenda - Peter's wife.
On the happier side, John Talbot organized our first trip to the Abbey House Gardens in Malmesbury. We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day, and although the rain earlier in the week had taken its toll on the tulips, many of them were still blooming and the garden was a riot of colour. This is a beautiful garden with copious planting and especially renowned for its tulips and roses. Well worth a visit.
Plant Sale
Thank you all for supporting the plant sale. There were perhaps not so many plants donated or so many buyers. (But there was opposition from other Plant Sales). The people who came and bought well, and helpers took home to nurse and bring back the surplus plants which we continued to sell for the next few weeks. We closed the books at the end of May having raised £370. Many, many thanks to helpers and buyers.
Band Concert
We now need to think about the band concert on 8th August. As some of our helpers are no longer with us and others will be away at the time, it is essential that we can recruit a few members willing to help with erecting and dismantling the tent. We also need servers, washers up, tea makers, etc and of course of paramount importance, cake makers. (We are happy to reimburse people for ingredients if they give us a bill). I am counting on members to make this day its usual success, but I cannot do it without your help. I have had one or two offers, for which I am most grateful, but a few more would be most welcome. Male and female - all are welcome.
The same applies to the Produce Show on 11th September. We need volunteers on Friday evening for setting up and on the Saturday for Stewarding, catering and dismantling at the end. If you could spare an hour or two for either or any of these tasks let us know. Refreshments will be available at lunch time at a small cost.
Store
While the present system appears to be working well, we do still need someone to be responsible for the general running of the store. If you are at all interested please ask Les what it entails. It is not a very onerous task and might even be a 'workshare' which is what the volunteers are doing now.
One last note. I am still waiting and hoping that someone will come forward to take over the catering. It is only needed three times a year - A.G.M. Cheese and wine; Band Concert Teas (for which many members make cakes, usually sufficient for the Show as well); and thirdly Lunches and Teas on Show Day.
Iris Novell
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Trips & Catering
Trips
Outing to RHS Apple Tasting Event at Wisley, Sunday 24th October
Following the disappointment of the cancellation of the Eltham Palace trip due to limited support and the unavailability of smaller coaches, I am hoping that this outing will be considerabley better supported. For those like me who have not been to this event I am told that it is most enjoyable and worthwhile.
As an affiliated member of the RHS, we are entitled to a free entry for a group of over 50, so I am hoping for total bookings of around 50. If achieved, I can arrange for a larger coach. (So far 12 people have signed on.) The larger the coach, the less the cost per person, and I am hoping to be able to charge a price less than £15 per person. Until the total cost can be calculated, I am asking for a £5 deposit.
The RHS have warned me that such is the popularity of this event that they have to restrict the number of coaches, so it is important to get our booking sorted out as quickly as possible, both with the coach firm and with the RHS. I urge you to sign up for this trip as quickly as possible.
If any more club members, families or friends would like to book please contact John Talbot (see address and telephone no. in the printed edition of this newsletter) or leave a message in the Store.
John Talbot
Catering
Just to re-iterate my request for a successor, and also helpers for the Band Concert and Show. I shall be glad to accept any offers at anytime; male and female help both needed!
Iris Novell
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Show Time
Yes, that time of year is looming fast again. I do hope that we will see a record turn out this year.
There are a few small changes to the Show Schedule that I wrote about in the April Newsletter (see centre pull out in the printed edition of this newsletter for this year's Schedule and entry form; Click here for the Schedule on-line). Just in case you have 'mislaid' it or need a reminder, details of the additional classes, and a requirement change, are as follows:
Section A - Vegetables - Members Only
Section F - Specialities - Open
Section O - Container Gardening - Open
Section P - Taste & Smell - Members Only
There are some small changes to the Children's classes. Please encourage your (and your friends') children and grandchildren to enter and make a real competition of it. Our judge needs to be put under a bit more pressure than in recent years.
We are proud and honoured to announce that there will be an additional Shield to present this year in memory of Eddie Smalls, one of our 'store helper characters', who sadly passed on last year. He will be missed at the Store and the Show. His family would like WAGS to present the Eddie Small Memorial Shield in recognition of Eddie's contribution to the Society and the Show. The Shield will therefore be awarded to the Entrant who the RHS judges consider to have exhibited the best entry in the Members Only classes. See page 10 of the Schedule for more details.
We need assistance from able bodied members (and/or their offspring, friends, neighbours etc.) to fetch and return tables and chairs from their various storage places, set up and dismantle the Show halls, patrol the halls as stewards both during judging and viewing, distribute the certificates after judging, collect tea cups and plates, wash up, keep an eye on the car park and numerous other tasks. If you can spare a few hours on Friday 10th, Saturday 11th or on the morning of Monday 13th Septermber, please give me a call (see 'phone no. in the printed edition of this newsletter) or call Iris (likewise). I am not asking for cover for all three days (although I won't turn such an offer away), just part of one will be a great help and take the pressure off the 'regulars'. If you get the answer phone, please leave a message and we will call you back ASAP.
Finally could I remind all 2003 Trophy winners to return them to the Store, in a clean state please, no later than Saturday 24th July.
Good luck to all that enter. See you at the Show!
Bernard Novell
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Shop Talk
It is almost time to start preparing for next year's garden, so I want to draw your attention to some of the items the store will have during the next few months. Most of you will already know what we usually have but there are about 40 new members who probably will not know the routine.
Bulbs for Autumn planting should be available at around the end of August. I had hoped to have details of these, but in spite of keeping Tim waiting, the catlogues have not arrived.
Catalogues for Dobies seeds and plants etc. should be with us at around the end of September. The discount arrangements will be as before; which is 35% for seeds ordered not later than 5th December and 20% afterwards. Discount on plants is 10%. We do have a volunteer to do this job, he has had nothing to do with it before - so please be good. It is not a very easy job.
Onions and shallots should arrive in December, for sale when we re-open in January. Seed potatoes should be ready for sale in early February.
There will be details of all these with prices in the next newsletter.
Please remember that on Show day 11th September, the store will be closed in the morning, but WILL be open from 2-4 in the afternoon.
The store is running quite well with the help of members who are putting their names on our rota list. We are very grateful to them but what we must have soon is someone to be responsible for the running of the store longer term. My commitment to the store goes back almost 20 years but we need somebody younger because we cannot go on for ever.
Les Novell
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Editorial
The Last Word
A reduction in the number of articles this time in the hope that members will reflect on the urgent need to find a Store Manager(s). We have been asking for your help for two years and nobody has even intimated that they would be willing to take on the task. We cannot continue with septuagenarians/octogenarians manhandling the stock, however healthy they may think they are! Enough on this subject - my wheelbarrow is no substitute for a soap box!
If anyone has difficulty reading the newsletter with the differing coloured inks and paper, please let me know in confidence. I can arrange for a limited number to be printed in black on white paper.
As always, articles, trip reports, recipes and photos are always welcome. Drop them into the Store - they will get to me, or, for those connected to the internet, email me at tim@tpking.fsnet.co.uk.
Tim King