Page 61 - Simply Vegetables Summer 2023

An audience of vegetables
Creating the stalls
Ted’s runner beans
we are so grateful. Nigel and Kelvin did
their normal great work on the Seed Planting Zone, encouraging children to sow some seeds in a pot to take away and grow. Paul “The Farmer” and I even did a shift on the zone at one point, and I was heartened to see how enthusiastic the kids and their parents were.
We were delighted to
welcome the BBC presenters
to our stand. On Saturday, Arit
Anderson popped by. She is
so lovely, no airs and graces
and not above asking about our veg. She went away with good advice and some plants. We can bask in the glory that Arit is growing our vegetables.
On Sunday we had the most helpers I have ever seen packed into one marquee. We had been alerted that Adam Frost was coming for a photo with us all. No one wanted to go for a wander at that point. The team certainly deserved their place
in the celebrity photo, as they have to contend with dismantling and selling off the display garden vegetables at the end of the show. The sell off is frantic. Mary suggested a “team talk” beforehand to get a bit more organised. I am not sure everyone listened to me, but it went a lot more smoothly. It is always a moveable feast as every year the visitors behave differently. Debs kindly staffed the stand
Jacqui rocking pink high-vis
Arit with me and Lucy
while we had the bun fight outside, as we still had a few plants to sell.
This year’s show seemed the best and most enjoyable yet. My fantastic teams were terrific. I cannot thank them enough for their help, enthusiasm and hard
work over the course of the four days at Beaulieu. They all got stuck in and played their part, which made my job much easier. There were a few renegade moments – what happens at the show, stays at the show – and sometimes it is like herding cats. However, I cannot do it without them and every one of them is valued.
Thank you everyone. Your support means the world to me.
Already looking forward to doing it all again in 2024.
Ali Clarke
Hants DA Secretary
Helen working up in the gods
David, Barbara, John, Lucy and Sarah
Simply Vegetables 61