VILLAGE SHOW 2014
Ten months of preparation and then, suddenly, the day of the 150th Village Show was upon us. With the weather being the one element beyond the control of the committee, the cool but dry start – which was to remain for the majority of the day – was a welcome relief, especially after the downpours of the day before.
By 11am everything on Butts Field was in place and it was down to the Seaforth Highlanders Pipe Band to start proceedings, leading the fancy dress parade up Main Street and onto the Showground for judging. And what a fabulous turnout we had! Cartoon characters, entrepreneurs, adventurers, celebrities and sportsmen graced the field and Mr Maddison had a tough job on his hands to judge the winners. Well done to everyone – including the adults – who entered what was the biggest parade we’d seen for years.
From early on the main marquee saw a relentless stream of entries to the Homecraft and Horticultural competitions, and when it re-opened after judging the once empty tables had been transformed into a colourful and artistic display of talent for all to admire. It’s wonderful to see so much effort from visitors and organisers alike going into what is the most traditional aspect of the Show, and that it is still such an integral part of the day. It was unfortunate that Daniel Trott from Zinnia Flowers was unable to attend due to illness, but the marquee seemed no less busy as a result.
The return of the Scarecrow competition proved a good move, with 11 fantastic entries brightening up the outside of the main marquee. Well done to the Firth family who scooped first prize with their three footballers – at least that’s one England team who can bring home a medal!
We were once again honoured with a dedicated flypast. We had been advised of the earlier than usual arrival time of the Dakota this year, and it was fantastic to see so many already on the Showground when it made its presence, circling twice to acknowledge us all. It’s a privilege that they continue to accommodate us, especially as we coincide with Armed Forces Day – one of the busiest days in their schedule.
In the main arena the hugely popular egg-throwing competition made for great entertainment, showcasing the catching talents of the young, and not to mention the amazing bouncibility of some of the eggs! Our thanks to Mr Maddison who provided us with his commentary before passing the mike to the ever-entertaining Mr Bob Flower for the remainder of the Show.
One of the joys of the Show is seeing the children of St Peter’s and neighbouring villages participating in the main arena and this year in addition to the egg-throwing we had not one, but two dance acts. The children of the Starlight Dance Group and the Bingham School of Dance were a delight to watch and all credit to their teachers for choreographing routines that they clearly enjoyed performing in front of a large audience.
Then it was the turn of the men to show off their talents in the Tug-of-War competition. Last year’s winners representing James Firth, and the East Bridgford Dads’ team were knocked out in the semis, and the final comprised Clive Turner’s team against the newly formed Reindeer Inn contingency. Youth, muscles and a few rather intimidating wrestling belts gave the newcomers the edge, and they left the field with the trophy.
Around the Showground the stalls were kept busy with browsers and buyers. This year’s selection of craft, food, jewellery and outdoor goods was interspersed by representation from local societies and charities as well as interactive stalls including the coconut shy and East Bridgford Football. Special mention should be given to our Farm Corner with its animals and farm tools, sheep-shearing and the role-play of Brian Crossland and his wife Nina who, in the spirit of the Show’s theme, dressed up as their ancestors.
The Classic Car display included an impressive selection of 11 motor vehicles and one camper van. Our thanks goes to Andrew Quinn who stepped in this year to organise this area in the absence of Ian Tomlinson. At the other end of the Showground and appealing to the younger visitors was the Circus Workshop which enjoyed an intermittent stream of children learning a multitude of circus skills. The mini bouncy castle was situated in the same area and enjoyed by the littlies, while the Punch & Judy show had returned by popular demand, giving mums and dads a well earned rest while their toddlers were occupied. The Surf Simulator proved a popular replacement for the Rodeo Bull of last year with adults and children testing their balance – the longest ‘surf’ clocking up a very impressive 451 seconds!
Our main arena entertainment included the Wye Valley Axemen, who not only enjoyed the day, but also the evening before in the village pub and a night on the Crossland farm. Feedback shows that their performance received mixed reviews, but there’s no doubting their talents with a blade and we hope that the steadiness of their act was off-set by the ‘silliness’ of Bernie Bennett, who certainly did well to stay on his tightrope while little faces watched on. Equally silly and highly amusing were the Grannies on ‘shopping trolleys’, who charged around the showground with their music and mingled with the crowd.
The food and bar area was the busiest we’ve seen it in a long time, with the barbeque and hog roast struggling to keep up with demand. We’ll be looking at ways to beat the queues for next year but hopefully the excellent performances from the Toot Hill band and the Morris Dancers helped during the wait.
As organisers we felt the Show went well, and we’re delighted that a record 3,679 of you came to watch, enjoy and take part in the day’s events. The takings from the activities and refreshments, the tombola as well as programme and raffle sales will give us the opportunity to once again donate to a number of local clubs and societies, and we look forward to announcing this later in the year.
As always, we are indebted to the huge number of volunteers who help with set up and on the day itself. Thank you very much – we wouldn’t be able to hold the Show without you.
Our AGM is being held on Thursday 18th September at 7.30pm in the WI Hut, where we will reflect on the Show, approve last year’s accounts and elect new officers. If you’d like to come along please do so, you would be most welcome.
Annual General Meeting - 2014
If you would like to join the committee please come to the AGM at 7.30pm on 18th September 2014 in the WI Hut, and hear the official report on this year’s show and the roles available for next year.
Saturday 28 June
Village Show Update
In a few short weeks the village will once again be buzzing with excitement and activity as its 150th Show gets underway on Saturday 28th June. Proceedings start at 11am prompt with the traditional Fancy Dress Parade from St Peter's School and there'll be plenty of entertainment throughout the day, finishing with the Dog Show and Raffle Prize Draw.
Programmes will be on sale door-to-door around the villages shortly - look out for our team of volunteers in their distinctive orange shirts - as well as through the Post Office and East Bridgford News later on in the month. Also on sale will be raffle tickets with some great prizes, including barbeque, lawn mower, family days out, meals, beauty treatments, wine and much more!
This year's Show is a mixture of old favourites and new faces, with highlights including:
- Seaforth Highlanders leading the Fancy Dress Parade
- Morris dancing & live folk music
- Surf simulator to test balance & nerve!
- Bee-keeping demonstration
- Water Wars - back by popular demand
- Main arena entertainment: Wye Valley Axemen & Bernie Bennett on his tightrope
- Egg-Throwing competition
- Dog Show
- Tug of War
- Punch & Judy shows
- Inflatable obstacle course, slide & bouncy castle
- RAF Dakota Flypast (weather permitting)
- A wide range of stalls to browse & buy from - OPEN FOR BUSINESS FROM 11AM
- Hog roast, barbecue, pancakes, WI sandwiches and teas
- Performances by Bingham School of Dance and Starlight Dance Group
- Licensed bar, Pimm's tent
- Main marquee displaying Homecraft & Horticultural entries
- Floral demonstrations by Zinnia
To celebrate such a milestone year we have had tea-towels specially commissioned as a souvenir from the Show, and these will be on sale throughout Show Day. Full colour and depicting events associated with the Show over many years, these will make great presents or simply reminders of a fun day out.
Don't forget to bring your Homecraft and Horticulture entries to the main marquee between 8am and 9.45am, as well as your scarecrows. We look forward to welcoming you all on to the field on the 28th.
Sophie Brewill
Chair, East Bridgford Horticultural Society
Saturday June 28th 2014
Village Show Update
It’s early days but already the 150th East Bridgford Village Show is shaping up to be an exciting day to put in your diary. The committee has been quick to secure the entertainment before it’s booked up elsewhere (we are competing with Glastonbury weekend this year) and so far the line-up includes:
- A daring display of lumberjack skills from the Wye Valley Axe Team
- Heart-stopping tightrope skills and comic buffoonery from Bertie Bennett
- Granny Turismo – loud & outrageous grannies go ‘walkabout’ on their shopping trolleys!
The hugely popular Water Wars will be back again this year and those of you who tested your staying power on the Bucking Bronco will be sure to enjoy having a go on the surf board simulator.
We’re hoping as many of you as possible will enter the homecraft and horticultural competitions, and we’re re-introducing the Scarecrow competition for this year too. More details will be coming out over the few months so you’ll have plenty of time to perfect your entries!
If you have any suggestions or ideas for the Show please contact me on
brewill@btinternet.com.
Sophie Brewill
Chairman
A MAGIC LANTERN SLIDE SHOW!
Why do we really enjoy immersing ourselves in nostalgia? We go on about the ‘old times’ but usually only remember the good bits! We somehow forget difficulties and hardships that challenged us many years ago. No posh white toilet bowl with a seat and a handle to flush, but a board with two large holes and a bucket beneath! No soft loo roll but newspaper torn into squares and suspended with string through a hole in the corner. Cheap newsprint coined the phrase ‘black bottom gang’! Those were the days, and sadly I remember them well!
Likewise we tend to forget the wonderful characters that were very much part of village life in the ‘good old days’. Well, the Village Show committee has decided to remind you of some of those characters and times with a magic lantern slide show of past Flower Shows from the nineteen fifties onwards.
This year will be my sixty-first unbroken attendance at the Show so I have seen many changes. I have been doing the public address commentary for very many years but prior to that I took hundreds of slide photographs, some of them very revealing (in the nicest possible way of course)!
We think the slide show will not only appeal to the more ‘senior’ village residents but also to the younger fraternity. The children in the fancy dress parade are particularly interesting, some of whom have now grown up and have children, and perhaps grandchildren, of their own.
We will be holding the slide show at the Reindeer Inn, Kneeton Road, on Thursday 24th April 2014 at 8.00pm. Entrance is free and by ticket only, available from the East Bridgford newsagents. Space is limited though, so make sure you pick up your ticket soon.
If you fancy a stroll down memory lane with perhaps a little commentary thrown in for good measure come and join us there.
Bob Flower
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