Wednesday September 22nd finds the Blewbury WI hearing about "Weddings from around the world". We meet at 1930 in the Vale Room of Blewbury Village Hall.
Up and coming events include a visit to Gaugin at the Tate, a talk at Benson on The Music of Elgar, Calender Girls in Oxford (watching not taking part!!) and a visit to the Grand Lodge of Free Masonry in London - that should be fascinating! As always, we will be having our monthly scrabble evenings, our monthly local walks and when the winter evenings draw in (already??) we’ll be having our weekly Mah-Jong afternoons - just to keep the old grey cells active.
Come on Upton ladies!!! If you would like to come and need a lift or have any queries, please call Judy White on 850381. Or just turn up as a visitor - you’ll be made very welcome.
Archive for the Category ◊ Organizations ◊
Well done to everyone who entered the Summer show, our largest ever! 55 competitors put together 385 exhibits between them, just phenomenal! As usual the standard was pretty high, particularly in the cookery, floral art, handicraft & photography sections, with just one or two points between the winner of the cup and second place! Fruit, flowers & vegetables were not so good this year, but hardly to be expected given the weather conditions this year! The children’s’ section was brilliant, 14 kids entered this year, which gave the judges a bit of a headache, well done!
As usual, my roses where not up to scratch on show day, but 3 days later they were looking fabulous, typical! I had no runner beans ready, only 2 courgettes not 4, my teabread decided to burn itself then sink, but at least it got a 1st in the committee reject class, such fame!
Our next talk is on Wednesday 1st September, at 7.30pm, in the Vale room, Blewbury, when we have a Bee Demonstration, sadly they are not doing Morris dancing, but the beekeepers are going to tell us all about bees and how to keep them happy, and I think there was a mention of real honey being available to buy!
Happy Gardening
Karen Brooks
Theatre Group
We now have just 2 seats remaining for the trip to "Hairspray" at the New Theatre, Oxford on 12.October. Are you interested?
We are beginning to think about next year, so if you have requests or information do let me know.
Malcolm Wright 850705
ANTONY and CLEOPATRA
The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford, 21 June 2010
Perhaps it was just as well we went on the longest day because the performance ran for three hours and twenty minutes, even with a few cuts. But tedious it wasn’t for a moment!
The last time I saw the play at Stratford, Antony was drunk - literally - and Cleopatra spent her time in what looked like a shapeless dressing gown. So I was worried that the group were going to be subjected again to a director’s weird ideas or an actor’s incapacity. Wrong on both counts. Granted there was modern dress, but the business suits and Air Force uniforms of the Romans acceptably contrasted with the colourful, often outrageous, fashions and khaki camouflage battledress of the Egyptians. The set was simple so that the action was almost breathlessly continuous, and often excitingly choreographed.
While the ensemble’s portrayal of the characters was always good and sometimes brilliant. Kathryn Hunter’s Cleopatra was tiny, wrinkled, skeletal, and she limped, but the passion and charisma and temper and theatricality were all there, and she rose effortlessly to the tragic regality of her end. Darrell D’Silva’s Antony was also well past his prime, but it was easy to see how he engendered such loyalty, how he had once been a consummate general, and he matched the fire and fury of his great love. Octavius is always a clear contrast to Antony but John Mackay gave him a new dimension. He was an eminently calculating politician who became more and more objectionable as his power grew, though he was allowed displays of anger and a deep affection for his sister.
It was a pity that some jobsworth official would not allow us to board the minibus near the Stage Door and kept the group waiting while the driver toured Stratford’s one-way system to get the bus back outside the theatre after practically all the audience had departed Still, all the other memories are exciting and colourful and entirely pleasurable.
Malcolm Wright
June 2010
The 63rd ANNUAL SHOW will be held at Blewbury Village Hall on SATURDAY 31st July 2010
STAGING: 8:30 am - 11:00 am
JUDGING to commence 11:15 am
SHOW OPENS 2:30 pm
PRIZE GIVING followed by AUCTION 4:00 pm (ish)
ENTRY FEES; 20p per entry. No fee for entries to Children’s Section.
POINTS; 1st - 4 points, 2nd - 3 points, 3rd - 2 points, 4th - 1 point;
PRIZE MONEY; 1st - 50p, 2nd - 30p, 3rd - 20p
The closing date for all entries (written, e-mailed or telephoned) is 10:00 pm. on Wednesday 28th July 2010. Late entries are at the Show Secretary’s discretion and will incur an extra charge of £1 to cover administration costs.
Entry forms together with entry fees should be returned to:
The Show Secretary; Karen Brooks, Tadcombe, Besselslea, Blewbury (or c/o the Post Office, Blewbury)
If you are unable to deliver your entry, you may telephone it in on 01235 850219 or e-mail it karencbrooks@googlemail.com If you use one of these methods please bring your completed entry form together with entry fees when staging.
Everyone is welcome to enter any of the classes, unless stated, (e.g.; Ladies only)
All entries must be grown by or be the work of yourself or the exhibitor/s, and in the case of horticultural exhibits, must have been in your possession for three months, unless grown from seed in a shorter period. The only exception is in the Floral Art section, where materials may be bought, but the arrangement must be your own work.
We thank the following Garden Centres and Companies who support us
Savages, Blewbury Garage, Blewbury Post Office, Set in Stone;
The novice classes in each section are for those exhibitors who have never won a class in the relevant section at any previous VPA show e.g., Rose class winners may enter the Sweet Pea novice class if not winners in sweet peas before!
Please try to name the varieties that you display in any of the Horticultural Classes
FRUIT SECTION ‘A’
Fruit should be shown on the stalk, should NOT be polished but left with the natural bloom on and should be shown ripe (apples, pears and gooseberries may additionally be shown when unripe).
A1 Plate of 10 raspberries
A2 Plate of 10 strawberries
A3 Plate of 10 gooseberries
A4 Plate of currants, 3 strigs any colour
A5 Plate of mixed fruit, 3 varieties, not less than 2 specimens of each
A6 Plate of 7 plums, damsons or gages
A7 Plate of any other fruit, one variety only, any number of specimens, not mentioned above
Novices Only:
A8 Plate of any fruit, one variety, any number of specimens
Class A7 only - more than one entry per member permitted
The MURPHYS’ CHALLENGE CUP will be awarded to the exhibitor with the most points in the Fruit Section.
A Special prize will be awarded to the best exhibit in this section.
VEGETABLE SECTION ‘B’
B1 4 potatoes, white
B2 4 potatoes, coloured
B3 4 courgettes, 4-8 inches (100-200mm) in length, without flowers
B4 3 carrots, with leaf stalk
B5 2 lettuces
B6 4 onions, shown as pulled with washed roots
B7 3 beetroot, with stalks
B8 4 tomatoes with calyces
B9 Vase of herbs, named
B10 6 radishes, 2 inch stalks (40mm)
B11 Any other vegetable not mentioned, 2 or more specimens
B12 9 shallots, shown as pulled with washed roots
B13 6 runner beans
B14 4 peas/beans/legumes
B15 6 cherry tomatoes with calyces
B16 A marrow
B17 A squash
B18 A collection of 6 different vegetables staged on a tray < 18” sq; (46cm sq)
B19 Biggest radish
B20 Most peas in a pod (closed)
B21 A small container of homemade compost
Novices only
B22; Any other vegetable, as described above or a single of any other not mentioned.
Class B11 only; more than one entry per person permitted
The JOHN COLIN MEMORIAL CUP and a special prize will be presented to the best exhibit in the vegetable section.
The RYMAN SILVER CHALLENGE CUP will be awarded to the exhibitor with the most points in the vegetable section, along with a special prize.
The REG TAYLOR TANKARD will be awarded to the best collection class B18
A special prize will be awarded to the winner of class B22, Novices.
ROSE SECTION ‘C’
C1 Vase of 3 red blooms, one or more cultivars
C2 One stem, cluster flowered (Floribunda), any cultivar
C3 Vase of 3 stems, cluster flowered (Floribunda), more than one cultivar
C4 Vase of 3 blooms, large flowered (Hybrid Tea), three stages (one bloom in bud, one bloom half to three quarters open, one in full bloom), one cultivar
C5 Single stem of a hybrid tea rose
C6 Vase of 3 stems, miniature, one or more cultivars
C7 Vase of 1 bloom (Shrub Roses)
C8 Single stem of an old fashioned garden rose, any cultivar
C9 Vase of 1 bloom (Climber or Rambler).
C10 Ladies’ only - Vase of 4 blooms, not less than two cultivars
Novices only
C11 Vase of 3 roses, any cultivar
The EILEEN SMITH MEMORIAL VASE will be awarded to the winner of Class C1
The LADIES CHALLENGE ROSE BOWL will be awarded to the winner of Class 10.
The CLOVER CHALLENGE ROSE BOWL will be awarded to the exhibitor with the most points in Classes C1–C9 inclusive.
The BLEWBURY & UPTON CHALLENGE ROSE BOWL will be awarded to the Best Exhibit in this section.
SWEET PEA/LATHYRUS SECTION ‘D’
Classes D1-D3 are for Spencer Sweet Peas (These are generally the modern sweet pea varieties; non- Spencer are usually called old fashioned or heritage varieties)
D1 Vase of 7 stems, one cultivar, any colour
D2 Single stem, any cultivar
D3 Vase of 12 stems, two or more cultivars
D4 Vase of 7 stems of non-Spencer sweet peas/lathyrus, one or more cultivars
D5 Bowl of sweet peas/lathyrus, one or more types (e.g. old fashioned, perennial, annual, species etc.), one or more cultivars, arranged for quality and effect, any foliage may be used. Space allowed 12 ins (458mm)
Novices Only;
D6 Vase of Sweet Peas, 5 stems, any cultivar, any type
The BLEWBURY & UPTON SWEET PEA CHALLENGE VASE will be awarded to the exhibitor with the most points in Classes D1 – D5 along with a special prize for the best exhibit in this section.
A special prize awarded to class D6.
CUT FLOWER SECTION ‘E’
Note: ‘type’ and ‘cultivar’ are both defined terms. For example, nasturtiums and sweet peas are ‘types’ of annuals; Jilly and Anniversary are sweet pea ‘cultivars’.
E1 Saucer of 6 pansies, one or more cultivars
E2 Single stem of a flower grown from a corm, bulb or tuber
E3 Vase of flowers grown from corms, tubers or bulbs, 3 stems, one or more cultivars
E4 Single stem of a hardy herbaceous perennial flower
E5 Vase of mixed hardy herbaceous perennial flowers, at least three types of perennials
E6 Vase of hardy herbaceous perennial flowers, 4 stems, one type of perennial
E7 Vase of annual flowers, not less than three types of annual
E8 Vase of annual flowers, not more than 6 stems, one type of annual
E9 Single stem of an annual flower
E10 Flowering shrub (other than a rose), 3 stems, exhibit not to exceed 18 inches (458mm) in width or depth, one or more types of flowering shrub
E11 Single bloom of a climbing plant, annual or perennial (may be displayed in a saucer or vase)
E12 Vase of mixed garden flowers, not less than 3 types of garden flowers, any number of stems
E13 4 Fuchsia blooms, named, different cultivars or species.
E14 A collection of flowers comprising:
Rose (one specimen bloom, large flowered, any cultivar);
Annuals (3 stems, one type of annual); and
Hardy herbaceous perennials (one vase, 3 stems, one type of perennial)
E15 3 stems of Phlox
Novices only;
E16 Vase of mixed garden flowers, not less than 3 types, any number of stems
The BLEWBURY & UPTON SILVER CHALLENGE CUP will be awarded to the exhibitor with the most points in Section E; E1 – E15
The FRANCES BERRILL SALVER will be awarded to the exhibitor with the most points in Classes E7, E8 & E9
The PYREX SILVER CHALLENGE CUP will be awarded to the winner of class E14
A special prize will be awarded for the best exhibit in the section, and also class E16
CONTAINER PLANT SECTION ‘F’
F1 Cactus/i or succulent/s, in a pot not exceeding 12 inches (305mm) in diameter
F2 Fuchsia/s, in a pot not exceeding 12 inches (305mm) in diameter
F3 Any other flowering plant, not mentioned above, in a pot not exceeding 12 inches (305mm) in diameter, one or more varieties
F4 Herb(s), in a pot not exceeding 12 inches (305mm) in diameter (one or more varieties)
F5 A foliage pot plant, in a pot not exceeding 12 inches in diameter (plant must not be in flower)
F6 A bonsai tree, in a pot not exceeding 12ins (305mm) in diameter
F7 A standard plant, grown in a pot
F8 A container containing flowering plants
F9 A container containing foliage plants only
F10 A hanging basket
Novices only;
F11 a flowering pot plant
.
The WELCH TROPHY will be awarded for most points in this section.
A Special prize will be awarded for the best exhibit in this section
A DIPLOMA FOR EXCELLENCE IN HORTICULTURE will be awarded to the best exhibit in the above Horticultural Sections (A - F inclusive), also a special prize.
The Royal Horticultural Society BANKSIAN MEDAL will be awarded to the exhibitor who has won the most points (excluding special prizes) in the Horticultural Sections (A-F) of the Show. (In accordance with the RHS conditions governing the award of the Banksian Medal, the exhibitors who won the Banksian Medal in 2008 (Margaret Maytham) and 2009 (Eileen Bracken) are not eligible to win this medal in 2010).
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Merit Certificate will be awarded jointly with the VPA to the junior exhibitor (aged under 18 years on the show day), who in the judges’ opinion is the most promising horticultural exhibitor. Exhibitors in ANY horticultural classes, including those only open to junior competitors, will be considered for this special award.
A Special Prize will be awarded to the exhibitor staging the largest number of entries in the Horticultural Sections of the Show.
A Special Prize will be awarded to the best exhibit in the other sections of the show.
The BLEWBURY & UPTON NOVICE CUP will be awarded to the exhibitor with the most points in the novice classes across all sections.
INTER-SOCIETY SECTION ‘G’
This section is for other Garden Clubs and Societies to enter as a group. No entry feee is made for entries in this class. Individuals may enter other classes as specified earlier.
G1 A collection of produce comprising:
A large plate of fruit (two or more types) 20 pts.
3 varieties of vegetables (two specimens of each) 30 pts.
A vase of flowers (one or more types) 30 pts.
A jar of jam (any variety) 20 pts.
To be displayed inside an area not exceeding 2 ft x 3 ft, (610mm x 915mm) a tray or black underlay allowed.
The BLEWBURY & UPTON VPA SHOW SECRETARY’S CUP will be awarded to the Society gaining most points
In all of the following Classes more than one person per household may enter
FLORAL ART SECTION ‘H’
.Accessories, drapes, titles, containers and backgrounds etc may always be included unless specifically forbidden by the schedule.
Note - flowers in this Section may be home grown by the exhibitor or purchased.
Theme –“World Cup”
H1 Africa; “Rainforest”- a pedestal arrangement, space allowed 24inches/610mm in width, depth or height.
H2 Japan; “Oriental Express” – A vertical line arrangement, design not exceeding 24 inches/610 mm in width or depth, .
H3 England “England’s’ Dream”- an horizontal design suitable for a dining table, not exceeding 30inches/760mm in length & 10 inches (254 mm) in height
H4 France; “Ooh La La”- a miniature arrangement suitable for a guest bedroom, a container may be used. Space allowed 6 inches (152mm) in height, width or depth
Novices only;
H5 “World Cup” An all round arrangement in any container, accessories may be used, space allowed, 24inches/610mm in width, height and depth
The BLEWBURY & UPTON FLORAL ART CUP will be awarded to the exhibitor with the most points in Classes H1 -4
The BLEWBURY & UPTON FLORAL ART NOVICE CUP will be awarded to the winner of Class H5
The BLEWBURY AND UPTON FLORAL ART AUTUMN TROPHY will be awarded to the best exhibit in this section
HANDICRAFT SECTION ‘J’
Items that are exhibited must not have been shown at any previous VPA Show.
Please indicate sizes of handicraft items on the entry form to help with planning the Show.
J1 A hand knitted garment
J2 A handmade toy made from any materials
J3 A needlework picture, cross-stitch, canvas work or tapestry (stamped canvases and kits allowed, but credit will be given for original designs - please mark entry accordingly)
J4 An item of handcrafted jewellery J5 A painting or drawing, any subject (except a botanical illustration)
J6 A botanical illustration
J7 A Model or Sculpture, any medium, any size.
J8 Any other item of craft not mentioned above
The BLEWBURY & UPTON HANDICRAFT TROPHY will be awarded to the exhibitor with the most points in Section J.
COOKERY SECTION ‘K’ –
Classifications of fruit
Soft: Blackberries, blackcurrants, elderberries, figs, gooseberries, grapes, loganberries, mulberries, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, redcurrants, whortleberries (whinberries) etc.
Stone: Apricots, cherries, damsons, peaches, plums, greengages, sloes, nectarines, mangoes etc.
Hard: Apples, pears, medlars, quinces, crab apples etc.
K1 Jar of jam made from ‘soft’ fruit - any variety
K2 Jar of jam made from ‘stone or hard’ fruit - any variety
K3 Jar of any other preserve. (More than one entry permitted)
K4 Jar of marmalade any variety
K5 Jar of pickles
K6 Jar of chutney
Jars should be made of clear glass, with lids, and should be free from all commercial/trade marks.
The cover should be suitable for the preservation of the contents and the jar should be of appropriate size (typically 1lb.).
Labels should be plain and neat and should state contents and day, month and year of making.
K7 A loaf of bread (baked in a loaf tin)
K8 A tea bread (to given recipe)
K9 A dish suitable as a starter for a dinner party
K10 A vegetable pizza
K11 A sandwich suitable to take to work
K12 A fruit flan
K13 5 sausage rolls (homemade pastry)
K14 A bottle of home made soft drink. – a glass to be provided for tasting.
K15 4 scones
K16 6 pieces of homemade fudge
Novices only
K17; 4 flapjacks
The LADIES CHALLENGE CUP will be awarded to the exhibitor with the most points in Section K, also a special prize.
The GWEN SNOOK MEMORIAL CUP will be awarded to the exhibitor gaining the most points in the preserves, Classes K1-K6 inclusive.
The HARRY THOMSON SANDWICH PLATE will be awarded to the winner of Class K11.
NB; Entries for classes may be placed in the refrigerator if needed, (with staging card) in the kitchen of the hall at staging. The stewards will replace entries onto the table at the start of the show. All baked entries should be on/in white plates/bowls and covered with cling film, apart from bread which should be on a board, and the drink which should be in a clear bottle.
TEA BREAD;
200g self raising flour
200g mixed dried fruit
100g soft dark brown sugar
1 egg
Soak the fruit in half a pint of strong tea overnight.
Add egg to fruit, mix well, then add flour and sugar.
Put in greased loaf tin and bake for 1 hour at Gas 3-4, electric 170 c or 325 F.
CHILDREN’S SECTION ‘L’
An Entry Certificate will be given to all entrants in the Children’s Section. Your age must be stated on entry form. Your name must NOT be shown in the exhibit. The exhibits must be all your own work. There is no entry fee for any of the Classes in this Section.
VPA Classes for ages up to and including 7 years
L1 A drawing or painting entitled “My Family” on a sheet of A4
L2 Garden flowers in a jam jar
A CHILDREN’S CHALLENGE CUP will be awarded to the exhibitor with the most points in Classes L1 & L2
VPA Classes for ages 8 - 12 years inclusive
L3 A plate of cakes you have made
L4 A photo of flowers you have taken yourself
The BLEWBURY & UPTON CHILDREN’S CHALLENGE CUP will be awarded to the exhibitor with most points in Classes L3 & L4
VPA Classes for ages 13 - 17 years inclusive
L5 Something I have made (at school or at home)
L6 Flowers from the garden
The GWEN GREENOUGH CUP will be awarded to the winner of Class L6.
The ETHEL WARHURST TROPHY will be awarded to the exhibitor with the most points in classes L5 & L6
The BETTY CLARK TROPHY will be awarded to the best exhibit in the section.
In all the following Classes more than one person per household may enter.
PHOTOGRAPHY SECTION ‘M’
Items that are exhibited must not have been shown at any previous VPA Show.
M1 – M10; all prints not less than 6ins x 4ins
M1 A set of 4 colour prints depicting “On the Waterfront”
M2 A Colour print depicting “Oranges & Lemons”
M3 A Colour print depicting “Still Life”
M4 A Colour print entitled “What is this?”
M5 A Colour print depicting “Over the Farm Gate”
M6 A Colour print depicting “Café Life”
M7 A Colour print depicting "Shopping"
M8 A Set of 3 Colour Prints depicting “Messing about on the River”
M9 A Print, amusing, with caption
M10 A Print depicting “Happiness”
M11 A portrait (print any size)
M12 A Black & White print. (Any size)
The NIC COLE PHOTOGRAPHY TROPHY will be awarded to the exhibitor with the most points in this Section.
WINE SECTION ‘N’
Wines and meads must be exhibited in clear uncoloured glass bottles, with a plain label stating whether kit or original, the type of wine, and month and year of manufacture. Plastic or shouldered corks should be used and a glass provided for tasting with each exhibit
Beers must be exhibited in crown-capped or screw topped 1-pint brown beer bottles.
No entrant is allowed more than one entry in any one Class
N1 Bottle of white wine - made from a kit or original ingredients
N2 Bottle of mead - please indicate whether sweet or dry
N3 Bottle of red wine - kit or original, please state
N4 Bottle of rose wine - made from a kit or original ingredients
N5 Bottle of home-made cider, beer or lager - made from a kit or original ingredients
The SILVER CHALLENGE TANKARD will be awarded for the most points in the section.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ONLY SECTION ‘O’
This is for VPA committee members only, no fee & no prize money, just for fun!
O1 A floral or foliage arrangement depicting a song or piece of music.
O2 A plate of reject cookery entries
O3 A photo depicting “ My Garden”
A special prize awarded to the winner of this class.
General Information
All exhibits must be staged in accordance with the Schedule, and must be your own work. With the exception of floral art; all flowers, fruit & vegetables must be grown by you in your own garden or allotment. A full copy of the rules for exhibitors can be obtained from the Show Secretary, Karen Brooks. Exhibitors should ensure that the classes that they wish to enter are stated clearly on the entry form (both class number and category number) and that their name and address are legible. Where a class states no specific item, (e.g., a plate of any other fruit not mentioned), you may enter any number of plates of fruits, as long as they are all different and not mentioned! Always allow plenty of time when staging, maybe bring a few extra specimens in case of damage while travelling. Stewards will be on hand to assist you with any problems that you might have. All disputes with the judging must be put in writing and handed to the Show Secretary along with 50p, before 3pm on the day of the show, if upheld, your 50p will be returned. Before leaving the show bench, check that you have staged the correct numbers in order to avoid the possibility of disqualification on the grounds that it is ‘not according to Schedule’ (NAS). In any exhibit, but especially one of fruit or vegetables, uniformity of the specimens is important. Three high quality equally sized specimens are better than one large one and two smaller ones. Always go for quality rather than quantity. Most importantly of all, join in and enjoy it!
President: Mrs Joyce Gilbert
Vice Presidents: Mr John Snook
Mrs Joanna Thomson
Mrs Judy White
Chair; Mrs Eileen Bracken
Secretary; Mrs Chris Jarvis
Treasurer; Mrs Margaret Maytham
Show Secretary; Ms Karen Brooks
Committee; Capt. Austin Maytham
Ms Liz Mather
Mrs Maureen Pottle
Mr Ken Pottle
Mr Malcolm Wright
Mrs Val Harding
Dr Mike Gettings
Blewbury & Upton VPA Prizes for 2009
Annual Show
Blewbury & Upton Novices cup Sue Quinton
Murphy Challenge Cup Mary Gutfruend
John Colin Memorial Vase Eileen Bracken
Ryman Silver Challenge Cup Eileen Bracken
Reg Taylor Tankard Margaret Maytham
Eileen Smith Memorial Vase Margaret Maytham
Blewbury & Upton Ladies Challenge Cup Karen Brooks
Clover Challenge Bowl & Rose Medal Karen Brooks
Blewbury & Upton Challenge Rose Bowl
Blewbury & Upton Sweet Pea Vase & Medal Karen Brooks& Bernadine
Shirley Smith
Blewbury & Upton Silver Cup Chris Jarvis
Frances Berril Salver Chris Jarvis
Pyrex Silver Challenge Cup Chris Jarvis
Welch Challenge Tray Eileen Bracken
Banksian Medal Eileen Bracken
Best Exhibit in Show Les Ward
RHS Award of Merit (Junior)
Blewbury & Upton Floral Art Cup Graeme Gettings
Blewbury & Upton Handicraft Trophy Paul Letchfield & Eileen Bracken
Floral Art Novices Cup Doreen Gilbert
Floral Art Trophy Graeme Gettings
Ladies Challenge Cup Sue Quinton
Gwen Snook Memorial Cup Sue Quinton
Harry Thompson Sandwich Plate Mike Gettings
Children’s Challenge Cup Rhiannon Fletcher
Blewbury & Upton Children’s Cup Benedict Fletcher
Gwen Greenough Cup Rosemary Finnon
Rose Bowl 13 – 17 years
Nic Cole Photography Trophy Sally Jones
Silver Challenge Tankard Margaret Maytham
Betty Clark Trophy Lydia Shaw
Ethel Warhurst Trophy Aidan Fletcher
Committee cup Karen Brooks
Presidents Cup
Eileen Bracken
Wednesday 28th July sees the Blewbury WI hearing about "Tales from the Arabian Nights" - sounds exotic! We meet at 19.30 in the Vale Room of Blewbury Village Hall.
Up and coming events include a talk by Prof Richard Dawkins in Abingdon, Calendar Girls in Oxford (watching not taking part!!), a Celebrity evening with Ken Bruce, lunch at The George and Dragon in Upton and "Spend, spend, spend" at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury. As always something to suit all tastes.
Come on Upton ladies!!! If you would like to come and need a lift or have any queries, please call Mrs Gettings on 851579. Or just turn up as a visitor - you’ll be made very welcome.
The VPA had a lovely trip to Pam Lewis’s garden, great weather and beautiful gardens and lunch! Our next little jaunt is on Wednesday 7th July, to Clematis Corner in Shillingford, to book, please ring Eileen on 510095. We are meeting at Blewbury Village hall at 7pm, car sharing will be organised there if necessary.
It has been such a hectic year so far, dogs, kids, dandelions, guide camp etc that I completely forgot to mention the Annual Summer Show, this will be held on Saturday 31st July, the schedules are available from the Post Office in Blewbury, or on my front porch, (Tadcombe, Besselslea); Please pick one up if you would like to enter the show, entry forms need to be back to me by Weds 28th 10pm, email karencbrooks@googlemail.com or pop them into the Post Office, Blewbury or to Maggie in Upton. Then simply bring your entries to the village hall between 8.30 and 11am on the Saturday, and come back at 2.30pm when the show opens to the public, to see if you have won!!
If you can’t be bothered to enter, then just come along at 2.30pm, to see who has scooped all the prizes, and who will be winning the coveted silver cups! We will be serving teas and homemade cakes, a tombola and raffle, and at 4.30pm, we will auction off some of the prize-winning entries!
If you need more info, then ring me (Show Secretary) on 850219, and I will try to help you! I will be fighting off the pigeons who are trying to eat the cherries off the tree, and waging war on anything that may dare to eat or destroy my roses!! Maybe I should train the dog to guard them?!
The talk for the September meeting is on the 1st, Vale Room, Blewbury, when R & J Nickless will be giving a “Bee Demonstration”. Are they making cakes? Making them dance? I think we should know?!
Happy Gardening
Karen Brooks
Moments after I sent the copy for last month’s News, the situation changed, and three seats for the Stratford trip to see "Antony and Cleopatra" became available. Two have been taken up by reserves, but we are still looking for one person to join us on Monday 21 June.. The cost of £37.50 includes transport. I’ll let all participants know the time of departure - shall we take a picnic again? - later in the month.
We haven’t filled the minibus for "Hairspray" yet. That’s at the New Theatre, Oxford on Tuesday 12 October and the all-in cost is £40.25. I’m beginning to worry that we shouldn’t book for musicals - our last near-disaster was a Sonning musical show.
Another thought. How many Uptonians would fancy a trip to the Blewbury open-air theatre in July? This year’s show is Goldoni’s farce, " A Servant of Two Masters". Geoff, of course, won’t be in it this year (nor am I) but I’m sure it will be very entertaining.
Malcolm Wright 850705
This was another entertaining and interesting evening from Ian Hewson, of The WINEMAN on the wines from Italy. We have visited this country’s vines several times before but as they appear to have an incredible number of grape varieties it is no hardship to visit again, and he always brings good food. Ian was concentrating on modern Italian wines.
We started with a lovely light Prosecco, Durello Prosecco Colli Vicentini Vento. This was from a very small co- operative that has tried to improve the quality of the wine by paying the small land owners to tend for their hectares, rather than the quantity of grapes, thus producing less grapes but a far greater quality grape, hence better wine. This wine went down well, light and would be lovely on a summer evening.
The next wine was a Fiano/ Grecco 2009 by A Mano from Puglia, that little bit of Italy on the heel; I believe exceptionally pleasant to visit. This was a very nice wine at a very agreeable price £7.99, well recommended. The next wine was even better, from the lake Garda region a Lugana 2009 Ca dei Frati Vento, £13.99. I thought this was an exceptional wine from a very well established vineyard that apparently has hordes of Europeans queuing at the gates to purchase the wines. The next wine, a Merlot, was disappointing light not very appetising. We then went on to a Montepuciano d’Abruzzo DOCG Treamane 2008 Gran Sasso, and then its older brother a Montepuciano d’Abruzzo DOCG 2005. The first was good the second even better, due to the being left in oak barrels for longer. The next meeting is the Call My Bluff evening, see you all there.
Chris Traynor 24th May 2010
June finds the Blewbury WI hearing about the "Diary of an acting look-alike" Should be fun! We meet next at 7.30pm on Wednesday June 23rd in the Vale Room of the Blewbury Village Hall. Why not come along and give it a try? As a visitor you will be made very welcome. Coming up as part of our very varied programme: A visit to the Oxford Botanic Garden, Theatre at the Watermill, Calendar Girls in Oxford, a Croquet taster day, a day trip to the Chatham dockyard and much much more. If you need a lift or more information, please contact Judy on 850381.
Graeme Gettings
