Page 48 - Simply Vegetables Winter 2024/25

Midland Branch
MEMBERS 10000 TO 19999
From the Chairman
The Showing year has come to a close and I feel very proud of how well our small committee has done with the shows in which we have been able to participate. Thank you team! I must give a special mention to Ernie and Margaret Hull from the Bucks DA who, whilst not committee members, work tirelessly
on the stands for us at the Spring and Autumn Shows and without whom
we would struggle. We desperately need more help. If you have the time to lend a hand, you would be made most welcome. Do come and join us.
During the summer we supported Tibberton Show in Gloucestershire, one of the few remaining village shows in the county, and the Bucks DA put on their stand at the Bucks County Show, with the usual number of high standard exhibits on the benches. Congratulations to all the organisers and to those who won prizes.
Our main event of the year is, of course, the Midlands Branch Championships. This year the number of entries exceeded our expectations, 400 in total, with the usual one-third not being staged when the actual day came. The standard of entries was particularly high, and visitors were in awe of the sight to behold. I would like to thank the judges and stewards for giving up their time to come along at an unearthly early
hour to do the necessary tasks. As always it is greatly appreciated.
My thanks to Mike Davies and Bob Bleasdale for the marking out, which proved more difficult this year as Malvern had arranged the tables differently, but hopefully next year we can meet with the organisers to have this altered. We also felt the stand provided by Malvern was too big and that a smaller stand next year would be more appropriate for our needs and enable us to show off the veg to its advantage. The judges, however, awarded us a Bronze for which we were grateful.
I was pleased that our President, Medwyn Williams, was available on
the Saturday to present Fellowship
Awards to Bob and Ruth Bleasdale, as
they were unable to attend the National Championships. Our National Chair, Sandra Hall, presented Jill Branham with hers on the Sunday during the Midlands Branch trophy presentations. Congratulations to all, including Simon Smith for his Fellowship and Jean Forrester for her Gold medal which were richly deserved.
I would like to thank the Midlands Branch team who put together the winning trug for the Inter-Branch competition at
the National Championships. From the photographs I have seen, it was a truly commendable exhibit. Thank you all!
We are pleased to welcome Mark Hall as the President of the Midlands Branch and this was confirmed officially at the committee meeting held in September.
Dates of next year’s events appear further in this Midlands Branch Report, but please keep an eye on the website for more information.
By the time you read this the Festive Season will be upon us. Let us remember those who have lost loved ones this year and for whom Christmas will never be quite the same again.
I wish you all joy and peace for the Festive Season and send my best wishes for a healthy and happy new year and, of course, a successful gardening season.
June Davies FNVS
Tibberton Show Gloucestershire
Members of the Midlands branch committee visited Tibberton Show, this was a new venture for us in West Gloucestershire, with an opportunity to promote the N.V.S. in that area.
We all met up early at the showground with beautiful weather where exhibitors were busy preparing their exhibits on the benches, including some other members of the Midlands Branch. The show committee had kindly provided us with
a table at the end of the marquee where we could set up our display. Assisted by Bob and Ruth Bleasdale along with Mike and June Davies we soon had things ready for the afternoon. So, with judging about to start we departed to Mike and June’s home in Newent Glos, where we were all treated to a lovely breakfast. After breakfast Mike gave us a tour around his greenhouses in the back garden, with
a fantastic crop of cherry tomatoes on show. Thank-you Mike and June for your hospitality.
On returning to the showground we looked around the benches to see how things had gone, Both Mike and Bob were in the prizes well done!! We spent the afternoon manning our display, answering questions and chatting to
the public. We did have some interest in our Society, so hopefully it may lead to some new members. The show is a very well supported event, with quite a lot going on for a local one day village show. Thanks to the Tibberton show committee for accommodating us for the day,
Thanks also to Bob and Ruth Bleasdale who travelled from Buckinghamshire to support the event.
Martyn Strange FNVS
48 Simply Vegetables