Page 53 - ALG Issue 4 2017

all the exhibits, but I must say the exhibits stood up remarkably well to the hot weather. The presentation of all the awards was on Sunday afternoon. The duties of master of ceremony were carried out by Chris Smith and our guest presenters were Councillor Carl Rice, Alderman Brenda Clarke, Jeff Cole, Life Vice-President BDAC Josie Coey and Joe Brown. On Saturday, the Show Committee met and decided that because class 1B had no award and as it was the brain child of the late Chris Brown it would be appropriate to rename 1B “The Chris Ann Brown Challenge Plate” for Novice Display of Flowers, Fruit and Vegetables; the winner will keep the plate. Joe has con rmed the name of the trophy after discussing it with the family.
Joe Brown was asked to present the rst award to the Hill Allotments. He also
presented the display awards to Thornbridge Avenue and Lower Tinkers Farm. Jeff Cole is reported to have said afterwards it was the best presentation he has been to in a long, long time.
We closed the show at 4pm on Monday when the exhibitors had removed what they wanted. Everything else was sold off by two ladies, Janet Spencer & Yvonne Brookes, who volunteered at short notice. They did
a superb job. As that was taking place,
we dismantled everything. By 6pm it was
all over, sold up and cleared up. Tuesday morning Birmingham Events and Crest Marquees cleared their equipment, Robert Wilkinson was moving his fair off to the next location and the park was back to normal.
WELL DONE TO EVERYONE INVOLVED.
Derek Cullen B.D.A.C Show Secretary
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New Eco-loo installed at St Mary’s Allotments in Leamington Spa
Matt Western, MP for Warwick and Leamington, answered the call to
launch a new eco-toilet at St Mary’s Allotments. Matt gave his blessing to the environmentally-friendly convenience that has been installed at the patch in Leamington.
The French-made loo is designed to make allotmenteering accessible to the wider range of people now using the allotments and will help to host community events, such as last month’s free outdoor theatre show. Plotholders use keys and it operates through sun and wind power alone, with
the purchase made possible by a National Lottery Awards for All grant.
Matt revealed that, like Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, he has a fondness for allotment gardening, though the new facility is a far cry from the scratchy composting toilet on his grandfather’s farm in Manitoba, Canada. The MP also met plotholders during the visit on the 20th August and praised the resplendent allotments, where apples and
blackberries are coming into season. Matt said: “It was an honour to open the brand new eco-toilet at St Mary’s Allotments. It is such a great community initiative and good for the environment. Thanks to all those who came along to the event in the rain and I hope that the eco-toilet helps make allotments more accessible to the local community”.
A spokesman for the allotments said: “We
are thrilled that Matt launched the new facility and got to see the allotments in such ne form. The eco-toilet really blends in with the surroundings and will improve inclusivity and widen the number of people who can take up plots and bene t from the healthy and therapeutic hobby of allotment gardening”.
*All pics by Geoff Mayor
Josh Layton for St Mary’s Allotments