Gidding Produce Show 2014 – a growing success

Gidding Produce Show 2014 - a growing success

What a show it was this year! Considering how difficult the weather has been at times we were a little apprehensive about how many entries we would get but we shouldn’t have worried. There was a wonderful array of vegetables and fruit and a great increase in entries for the jams, chutneys, baking, and bottles of homemade wine and sloe gin.

When the marks were added up, it was a very close run thing in many of the categories so next year the cups could be changing hands again. We also had many more children enter this year who showed fantastic technical skills as well as marvellous imagination and artistic talents. Thank you to all the show entrants for making it so interesting for the rest of us.

Excellent barbecue rounds off the day

Altering the format this year was a bit of a gamble but the BBQ proved to be a great success and no wonder, with the excellent organisational abilities and cooking of both Andrew Underwood and Dick Downer (at least I think it was them behind the smoke). Thanks to them we were all well fed and I can personally vouch for the vegetarian choice, halloumi cheese and aubergine wrap – delicious!

Raising funds for Village Hall and the Friends of St Michael’s Church

Although all the costs have not yet been accounted for as we have to have the cups engraved for the new winners, it looks as if we should have made over £300 including a much appreciated contribution from the parish council which helped us keep the cost of the food down and stage a really fun village event for all the family. The proceeds will be distributed between the Village Hall and the Friends of St Michael’s Church, two charities that look after the fabric of two special buildings in this village. Our profits were also increased by the generous donation of Bruce Jordan’s handmade fort which reached £25.00 by auction, thank you Bruce you have made somebody’s grandchild (and the show committee members) very happy!

A final note of thanks to Maurice and Margaret Armstrong, two stalwart members of the committee who worked so hard to make the event the success that it was and also to our judges who also had to work so hard this year with the increased entries!

Report by Sue and Patrick Jarvis

Winners of the Classes
Overall Winner Amelia Hodson
Vegetables/Fruit Amelia Hodson
Baking Brenda Williams
Jams/Chutneys Steve Knowles
Flowers Sue Shepherd
Craft Mich Woodley
Children Tilly Warren

And the Giddings website says special thanks to Sue & Patrick Jarvis and everyone involved in making it such an enjoyable event for the Giddings and surrounding villages.

Gallery

MAMMA MIA! Gidding Goes Greek

MAMMA MIA! Gidding Goes Greek

MAMMA MIA! Gidding Goes Greek

Location: Great Gidding Village Hall

Join us for Mezze, Moussaka and Merrymaking

Saturday 25th October from 7.45pm at Stavros’ Taverna in the Village Hall

Musical entertainment, Greek Dancing (like Dad Dancing but prettier), even a bit of plate smashing!

Dress Code: Think Abba, Mamma Mia! (Summer holiday gear or trad Greek).
Prize for the best

£15 per person

(includes 3-course meal and half bottle of wine)

Bookings via the Village Shop – 01832 293 260
(please advise vegetarian requirements when booking)

Book early – Places limited – first come first served

Start Time: 19:45
Date: 2014-10-25

Is it possible? Less than a week to go before the Gidding Village Show !!

Is it possible?  Less than a week to go before the Gidding Village Show !!

Just a reminder that there’s less than a week to go before the village show and BBQ on Sat 6th September from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. We hope that there will be plenty of entries this year and know that it’s been a difficult year (again) but don’t be put off from entering your produce even if it isn’t up to the standard you would like. Remember, it’s the taking part that counts and people are only allowed to laugh at their own entries – Gidding rules.

Don’t forget the BBQ

Don’t forget the BBQ starts at 4.00 p.m. and all are welcome, whether you have entered the village show or not. We will be asking for a small contribution towards a drink and a burger (delicious veggy options will be available , even if true carnivores find the ‘delicious’ bit hard to believe) and there will be plenty for everyone to enjoy. Hopefully the sun will be shining and it will be time for the lucky winners to enjoy their glory and the rest of us to discuss what went wrong.

Auction

The sealed envelope auction will also take place then and for those of you who haven’t come across this before (like most of the committee) it SHOULD go something like this. You put an unspecified amount in an envelope, mark it with your name and produce preference e.g. cakes rather than veg, and we will endeavour to match your envelope with a bag of goodies. It sounds relatively simple but I suspect there could well be a few amusing glitches along the way so come along and be part of the fun.

Hope to see you there, just remember to get your entries in by mid-day on Sat, and if you haven’t got a schedule you can check the classes out on this website. Good luck!

The Show Schedule

Public Viewing 3.00 to 4.OOpm
Presentation of Cups and Certificates at 4.00pm followed by B.B.Q. and brown envelope raffle.
Everyone welcome!

Vegetables and Fruit

  1. Carrots – 3
  2. Potatoes (white) – 5 on a plate
  3. Potatoes (coloured) – 5 on a plate
  4. Courgettes – 2
  5. Shallots – 5
  6. Onions – 3 (each over 125g)
  7. Runner Beans – 6
  8. Longest Runner Bean – 1
  9. Leeks – 3
  10. Dwarf French Beans – 6
  11. Beetroot – 3
  12. Sweetcorn – 2
  13. Tomatoes – 5
  14. Cherry Tomatoes – 8
  15. Vegetable marrow – 1
  16. Apples (dessert) – 5
  17. Apples (cooking) – 5
  18. Pears – 5
  19. Plums – 5
  20. Collection of cut herbs, 4 varieties in one container
  21. Biggest Pumpkin
  22. Largest Onion
  23. Largest Marrow
  24. Top Tray, collection of 3 kinds of vegetables on a tray, selected from the following, number as indicated in brackets. Onions (3), Potatoes (3), Runner Beans (6), Tomatoes (6), Carrots with tops (6), Parsnips with tops (3).

Plants and Flowers

  1. Three decorative Dahlias
  2. Cut Chrysanthemum – single stem
  3. Gladioli – 3 stems of same variety
  4. Vase of crocosmia – 3 stems
  5. Cactus or succulent – 1 specimen
  6. Best pot plant
  7. Top vase – between 5 and 10 stems of at least 2 varieties of any flower
  8. Five cut roses

Jam and Chutney – made since 2013 Village Show

  1. Jam – Any fruit
  2. Jelly – Any fruit
  3. Chutney – All ingredients to be listed on label
  4. Marmalade – Any fruit
  5. Curd – Any fruit

Baking

  1. Blueberry Muffins – 3 on a plate
  2. Ingredients and instructions for Blueberry Muffins

  3. Fruit cake – any size /type of fruit
  4. Plain Scones 5 on a plate
  5. Cheese Scones 5 on a plate
  6. Sausage Rolls 5 on a plate – shortcrust pastry
  7. Bread – 5 White rolls,made by hand
  8. Bread – Wholemeal loaf
  9. Millionaire Shortbread 5 on a plate

Craft Section

  1. Knitted handicraft item completed since last year
  2. Hard handicraft item completed since last year (woodwork/pottery/metal)
  3. An item of patchwork or quilting
  4. A hand-made greetings card.
  5. Any sewn item, including clothes
  6. Photography – Title – People’s pets

Miscellaneous

  1. Six Brown eggs
  2. Six White eggs
  3. Bottle of Home made wine
  4. Bottle of home made sloe gin. Made in last 2 years
  5. Bottle of home made miscellaneous liquor, any flavour/type

Children’s Section (under 15)

  1. Photograph Title ‘People’s pets’
  2. Animal made from vegetables and/or flowers
  3. A scarecrow (as big as you like)
  4. A decorated ginger bread man Age up to and including 10 years
  5. A decorated ginger bread man made by entrant Age 11 and over
  6. A decorated hard boiled egg
  7. Something made from a kit eg. Woodwork,models, Soft toy
  8. Painting Title ‘My house’ Age up to and including 10 yrs
  9. Painting Title ‘My house’ Age 11 and over
  10. Food for Life Lunch box (not more than 6 items total)

RULES AND CONDITIONS

  1. The show will be under the management of the Great Gidding Show Committee 2013.
  2. It is not necessary to live in Great Gidding to exhibit at the show.
  3. All exhibits must be the work of/or grown by the exhibitor.
  4. The Committee cannot be held responsible for the loss of any exhibit.
  5. Entry Fee is 20p per exhibit. There is no restriction on the number of entries in any one class but only the highest placed points will be counted towards cup awards.
  6. The schedule will be strictly adhered to and any exhibit not according to the schedule will be disqualified.
  7. Exhibits may be brought to the Village Hall on the day of the show between 10 am and 12 noon. No entries will be accepted after 12 noon.
  8. Cups/Trophies will be awarded to the exhibitor gaining the most points in all sections. The winner will hold the cup for 1 year. The Cups/Trophies remain the property of the Committee.
  9. Certificates will be awarded for 1st 2nd and 3rd in all classes, except those of the longest, heaviest, etc, when a certificate will be awarded to the winner only.
  10. Point scoring will be: 1st 6 points, 2nd 4 points, 3rd 2 points. The best entry of multiple entries to score.
  11. The Judges’ decision is final and the committee reserves the right to cancel or amalgamate classes.

NOTE
All exhibits will be raffled unless exhibitors indicate otherwise at registration. Exhibitors must remove non-raffle items immediately after the prize giving. The proceeds of the raffle will be given to a Parish Charity.

Great Gidding History Day

Great Gidding History Day

3 Years have passed since the last History day and more information and photographs have come to light

Saturday 18th October, 11 AM to 5 PM at Great Gidding Village Hall

 

Come and see who lived where and when

Find out more about past residents of the  village

 

We have researched those villagers who served in World War I, but would be interested to learn more. We also want to hear more about your memories of World War II.

A local archaeologist will join us – have you found something interesting in your garden, if so bring it along.

In fact please bring any documents and photographs you have relating to Great, Little and Steeple Gidding

Entry is free ( but a donation to Great Gidding History Group would be most welcome)

Drink and biscuits will be available throughout the day

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2014 Great Gidding Village Show

The 2014 Great Gidding Village Show

Village Show Update

Another challenging year for gardeners but we feel sure that even after all the difficulties we’ve faced with the weather, the village show is going to have some great entries. It’s always a pleasure to see the fantastic results people achieve with their vegetables and fruit and more than anything it’s being part of a fun village event so please don’t think your entry isn’t worth showing – it will be!
As to the baking side of things, there are all sorts of classes and hopefully you’ll get a chance to try some of the entries. This year we are doing a ‘sealed envelope’ auction where people can put an undisclosed amount of money in an envelope with their name on and we’ll then pick out a bag of goodies from the show and match it with the envelope. People will still be able to retrieve their entry before this auction but if you donate vegetables, fruit or cakes we would be very grateful .
We look forward to seeing you at the BBQ even if you can’t make the show so come along with the family and enjoy a relaxing time with the rest of us. Remember, anyone can enter you don’t have to live in Gidding!

Sue Jarvis

Remember! Great Gidding Village Show – Saturday 6th September.

Remember! Great Gidding Village Show – Saturday  6th September.

After such a wet start to the year it’s been good to see the sunshine and feel the soil warming up a bit.

There’s been lots of activity on the allotments and the annual anxieties of whether it’s too early or too late to sow or plant out have been occupying most of the conversations. Seeds are finally germinating in the warmer soil but many of us don’t fully trust the weather and have been starting seeds off in modules.

Vegetables and prize winning flowers

Hopefully there’s room in your gardens for some vegetables as well as prize winning flowers. This is a good time as hopes are high but don’t forget to prepare as best you can for all the pests and diseases which are waiting round the corner… use netting on brassicas against the cabbage white butterflies and put fine mesh over the carrot rows if you want to stop the pesky carrot root flies from laying their eggs in your beautiful prize winning exhibits.

Children too!

We’re really pleased that we’ve already had some requests for schedules from other areas and hope that we might get more entries from children this year, especially as the cup awarded for the winner of the Children’s section is worth having on display!

Who’s the best at cooking?

Remember, the baking section is open to all, so let’s have more men trying their cooking skills against those of the ladies. Go on, give it a try…

For schedules/queries please contact Sue Jarvis. E-mail: jartrap@aol.com or tel: 01832 293271.

'poached egg plant' Limnanthes douglasii] which the bees love and everyone should grow to encourage pollinators into their garden!

‘Poached egg plant’ (Limnanthes douglasii) which the bees love and everyone should grow to encourage pollinators into their garden!

Annual General Meeting

Annual General Meeting

The present committee will not be seeking re election. Therefore a new management  committee must be found or the Village Hall may have to close until a way forward is found.

The Village Hall has been thoroughly modernised internally and is a very useful meeting space or event function location.

The Recreation Field is a valued asset and has just been awarded Fields In Trust status.

If you would like to help then please attend the next committee meeting or the May 12th AGM.

 

 

 

Annual General Meeting date fixed

Monday 12th May from 7.30pm

 

Parishioners are welcome to attend all meetings which are usually held in one of the side rooms of the Village Hall. Start time 7.30pm

Swing Night is a huge success

Swing Night is a huge success

Giddings teamwork is a marvellous thing and on Saturday night the ‘swing team’ had risen to the not undaunting challenge of transforming GG Village Hall into a spectacular night club redolent of the popular and vibrant era of big band swingtime. What a success! The room was transformed with swathes of translucent fabric delicately lit from behind with hundreds of tiny bulbs, with large circular tables adding to the nightclub feel.

Fortissimo played ‘BIG BAND’

But what’s a nightclub without music? And wowee – the 16 piece Fortissimo played ‘BIG BAND’ with such exhuberence that most folks took to the floor at some point during the evening. The beautiful voice of singer Lyn Jones – known to some of us through her GG pantomime days – took us through all of our swing favourites until sadly the evening was over far too quickly.

A big thanks to the organisers

So many people helped with decorating the hall, preparing a lovely meal and manning the bar but special thanks must go to the core organisers Mary Read, Sue Shepherd, Jane Edwards and Anthea Keck for helping to raise funds for St Michael’s Church. You all did a great job!

Photos of the ‘swingers’!

Village Hall and Recreation Field

Village Hall and Recreation Field

Village Hall & Recreation Field Committee

The next meeting will be on

Date     12th May 2014

Venue  Village Hall meeting room

Time   7:30pm

Members of the public are welcome to attend. This is the AGM where a new committee will be elected and matters concerning the Village Hall and the Recreation Field will be discussed. They are your facilities, please show your support.

Thank you

Parish Council meeting

Parish Council meeting

The Monthly Parish Council Meeting

The next meeting is on

Monday 12th May 2014

Time  7:30pm

Venue  Village Hall

General public very welcome to attend.

Please note that this is a joint meeting with the Village hall and Recreation field AGM.  A new committee to run these facilities will be elected and a discussion on the approach made by a building contractor about the Village Hall site will follow. Please support your village management committee’s.