WAGS NEWS October 2001

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2001 Show Report

Well, what a FANTASTIC turnout!

I usually start my report with doom and gloom figures about how many less exhibitors and exhibits we had. Not this time! We had a much improved number of both. For those that like facts and figures, here they are:-

There are nine names on the Trophy list that have not appeared in the last three years if at all.

So, what has made the difference I hear you ask? Well I believe that there are a number of factors that might have influenced you. Firstly there is my incessant moaning in the newsletters, the challenge I set following last year’s Show, then there is our new Publicity Officer, the weather - I could go on, but I won’t. We may never know the real reason, but it does appear that we have turned the tide (well as far as the Show goes at least). Let’s keep it up!

Our visiting RHS Judges, Les & Phil, tell me that our Show was one of the best they had judged during the year. I particular the Fruit and the Flowers were outstanding. They even awarded a special ‘Best in Show’ Certificate for a Pot Plant grown by Cyril Baldwin. As those of you that came to the Show know, Cyril swept the board this year, although Mr Buckingham gave him a good run for his money. Unfortunately Albert Reed had moved house during the season and is still finding his feet in his new garden. He did still manage to carry off three trophy’s, not least of which was for the three Heaviest Onions grown from seed. Mr Buckingham was well in front in the Novelties section and Andrew Strange had a straight flush with his Cacti. I cannot remember 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Highly Commended going to the same exhibitor in one class before. (You may of course know otherwise - let me know if you remember this happening before).

The Specialties section was very well supported. Jean & Ann had some tough decisions to make.

Iris said that it was tough to separate the competitors in the Floral Art section. It seems that we may have cracked this one by making it an open competition across the board.

The Craft section was also much better represented, with six pictures and five hand made items. Lucy Stayce’s box was exquisite, but how does Joyce Stickley manage to knit a house and keep it all in proportion. I am glad I didn’t have to judge that section.

The Children tell me that we may have cut back too much and they would like more choice of things to make and do. We will have a big think about how we can sort this out. I would be grateful if anybody has ideas. There were a number of new families exhibiting this year, so if you promise to have a go again in 2002 (and get your friends to have a go too) then we would be happy to increase the number of classes again.

The catering was superb as usual, but at times the caterers were overwhelmed by the number of customers requiring tea and cakes.

My thanks go to all those that helped to make the day a success, no matter how small their contribution. I will not name names, you know who you are. A special thanks to the judges, from near and far, but especially to the Mayor of Wallingford, Theresa Jordan, for presenting the prizes and for staying to purchase some of the goodies at the auction.

Finally, those of you lucky enough to have won trophy’s, remember that if you wish you can have them engraved and claim the cost back from the society. If you have a trophy that does not have sufficient room left for engraving, please contact me or arrange for the base to be extended if possible.

Next year’s Show will be on Saturday 14th September 2002.

Start planning NOW!

Trophy Winners at the 2001 Show

No	Trophy	Section	2001 Winner
1	The Bill Stickley Shield	W.A.G.S.Top Gardener	Cyril Baldwin
2	The Talbot Trophy	W.A.G.S. Novice Top Gardener	Alasdair Christie
3	The President's Cup	Vegetables	B A Buckingham
4	Jim Purvey Memorial Cup	Best in Show - Vegetables	Albert Reed
5	The Slade Memorial Bowl	Flowers - Open	Cyril Baldwin
6	The Vice President's Cup	Flowers - Open	Cyril Baldwin
7	The W.A.G.S. Cup	Best in Show - Flowers	Cyril Baldwin
8	The W.A.G.S. President's Trophy	Pot Plants	Andrew Strange
9	The Members Trophy	Fruit	B A Buckingham
10	The Hovard Trophy	Best in Show - Fruit	B J Whitehall
11	The Arthur Shepperd Trophy	Specialities	A Freeman
12	The Johnstone Cup	Wine	Daphne Coles
13	The Bob Burrell Memorial Trophy	Novelties	B A Buckingham
14	The Macmower Challenge Cup	Heaviest Four Onions	Albert Reed
15	The Audrey Bosley Cup	Children up to 7 years	Georgina England
16	Lilian & William Wells Mem. Trophy	Children up to 12 years	Elspeth Wilson
17	The Novell Cup	Children up to 17 years	Rose Bennion James McDonald
18	The Mayoress' Trophy	Floral Art - Members	Miss P M Collier
19	The Floral Art Cup	Floral Art - Open	Louise Jaggard
20	Commemorative Plaque	Tastiest Tomato	Albert Reed
21	Commemorative Plaque	Most Scented Rose	Cyril Baldwin
22	The Craft Cup	Painting - Open	Joyce Shaw
23	The Latter Trophy	Photographs - Members Only	P R Kiff
24	The Founders Cup	Secretary's Choice for Best Effort	Cyril Baldwin
25	The Mayor's Trophy	Best Family Effort	The Jaggards
26	Royal Horticultural Society Banksian Medal	Winner of most Prize Money in sections A,B,C,E,& H	Cyril Baldwin
27	Allotment Shield	Wallingford Town Allotments	Not awarded
28	W.A.G.S. Trophy	WTC Best Kept Garden	Mrs Russell
29	Special Craft Trophy	Best in Show	Lucy Sayce

Bernard Novell

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Band Concert

The concert began at 2.30pm in warm cloudy conditions despite earlier concerns about the rain. In spite of the weather, there was a good turnout and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. My thanks go to the ladies who so kindly made the delicious and varied cakes and so generously gave them to the society; to those who served refreshments; to those who so quickly and efficiently erected the tent (and struck it afterwards) and finally to those who helped with the collection. They all deserve our warmest thanks for making the afternoon so pleasant and successful.

Gilbert Talbot

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Shop Talk

By the time you read this, the autumn bulbs will have been delivered. The following is a list of varieties available:

Tulips: Kaufmanniana, Jeantine, Donna Bella, Red Riding Hood, Cantate, Orange Emperor, Apricot Beauty, Mickey Mouse, Monsella, Peach Blossom, Arabian Mystery, Margot Fonteyn, Georgette, Toronto, Ballerina, Elegant Lady, Bakeri Lilac Wonder, Humilis Persian Pearl and Humilis Violacea.

Daffodil: Praesians Tub Variety, Fortune, Golden Ducat, St Patricks Day and Paperwhite Narcissi.

Hyacinth: Collection of prepared hyacinths, Hyacinth fine mixture.

Hippeastrum (Amaryllis): Apple blossom, Orange Sovereign, Red Lion and Mary Lou.

Lilium: Pink Perfection, Regale, Apeldoorn, Yellow Blaze, Lilium Longliforium Casa Rosa, Everest, Speciosum Rubrum Urchida and Pink Tiger.

Show Boxes: Miniature Narcissi, Winter Flowering Crocus.

Miscellaneous: Allium Purple Sensation, Anemone Blanda Mixed, Hardy Cyclamen Coum, Fritillaria Michaelowskyi, Galanthus Single Snowdrops, Triteleia Queen Fabiola.

Seed Potatoes are on order and will be due for delivery in early February. Types ordered are:

Earlies: Arran Pilot, Concorde, Epicure, Foremost, Pentland Javelin, Rocket and Swift.

Second Earlies: Charlotte, Estima and Wilja.

Main Crop: Cara, Desiree, Majestic and Pentland Crown.

Please note that because of the quantities left over last year, I have significantly reduced the quantities this year. To be sure you are not disappointed, remember they will be in the store early February.

Store Christmas Closing times.

The Store will not be open on Saturday 15th December, 22nd December, and 29th December 2001. We will re-open for trading on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th January 2002.

Peter Hallett

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West Dean Gardens

Once again we enjoyed a very well organised trip to West Dean with Iris. A good lunch set us up for a walk round a beautiful walled garden and greenhouses. Showers continued but didn’t spoil our walks around the other parts of the lovely grounds including the Pergola area. A pity the water gardens weren’t finished, but a trip well worth doing. Many thanks to Iris to enable us to enjoy these days out.

Jean Smith

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Wallingford Front Gardens Competition

The winner was presented with the WAGS Trophy at the show, see trophy winners in the Show Report.

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W.A.G.S Programme of Events 2001-2

Please note that the visit to Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens has been cancelled.
Watch this space for details of events for 2002.

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Discounts

Discounts are currently available at the following businesses (if you ask first), on the production of your CURRENT WAGS Membership Card, which must be shown before the transaction is started.

1. Newington Garden Nursery,
Warborough to Stadhampton Road 10%

2. Sheards, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell 10%

3. Woodcote Nursery, Reading Road, Woodcote 10%

4. Toad Hall, Marlow Road, Henley (Weekdays only) 5%

5. Norman Cox & Partners, Scotts Common, Checkendon All items except Fence & Trellis panels 10%

6. West Garden Machinery, Blewbury
New Machines only 10%

7. Lots O’ Pots, 3 Springfield End, Goring 10%

Other businesses are under review. Please ask if discount is available and show your card. If you find a business which offers discount that is not listed, please let us know so that we can obtain terms in writing and publish details in the next Newsletter.

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Recipe

Marrow Chutney

An appropriate recipe for this time of year.

Ingredients

1 large marrow

3 pints vinegar

2lb dates

2 tablespoonfuls salt

3lb onions

1 tsp mustard

2lb Demerara sugar

1 oz. mixed pickling spice

1/2lb raisins

1 tsp curry powder (optional)

2lb cooking apples

Method

Peel and cut the marrow, and put through the mincer, followed by the apples, dates, onions and raisins, being careful to catch the juices and add this to the chutney. Boil all together, and stir with a wooden spoon for 1 to 2 hours.

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Editorial

Editors Licence

This publication has been assembled by your new editor, Tim King. Considerable space has been devoted to the show report and trophy winners. As the show was such a resounding success it is only fitting that exhibitors, organisers and helpers enjoy and share the fruits of their labours with the membership.

Remember ... this is Your Newsletter. If you have any news, views or articles for inclusion then write to the Editor, care of the Trading Store. If you see any item of interest in another publication that is relevant to the society, please send us a copy so that we can use or publish it for the benefit of all members. There is a letterbox in Centre ‘70 where you can leave an envelope. It will get to us!

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