Page 9 - Phonebox Magazine November 2014

Lavendon Annual Village Show
Scared’Crows
Acolourful cohort of 17 scarecrows was in place in the Lavendon School field on Saturday, 14th September, opposite the Village Hall. They joined the teacher scarecrow, who had been standing alone
in the field for most of the week looking very strict, glasses askew, hair unkempt with her register in her hand. The other scarecrows had been sited in various parts of the village for the days leading up to the Show, looking very fresh, despite having got soaking wet during the week. The variety of the exhibits can be seen on the Lavendon Connection website.
The winner of the children’s section was the Lavendon School’s schoolmistress – the judges, Councillors Debbie Brock and Peter Geary, were probably intimidated by the severity of her gaze and Ron Blomfield won the adult section with his flowerpot person. The judges this time were perhaps influenced by the way it waved in the wind as it was being judged. About 300 people, mums, dads, grandparents, friends and relatives visited the Show, and were greeted by hundreds of exhibits – vegetables, fruit, flowers, jams, chutneys, cakes, bread, handicrafts and the childrens’ efforts, including curly-haired egg heads and limericks, which were most amusing to read.
There were 15 trophies to be won and John Shann won three of them for his chrysanthemums, onions and best vegetables overall in the Division.
Ruth Welsh won two trophies, the Grace Stapleton Cup for Handicrafts and the Hipkin Trophy for the Visual Arts. Other winners were Sue Potter, T. Hedges, Lucy Panter, Joshua Raymond, Elizabeth Raymond, Ralph Hipkin and David Rodwell. Nine children shared the Collins Charities Trophy for Children aged 8-11: James Davies, Joseph, Luke and Tyler, Joshua and Leo, Tilly Ledson, Amelia Jackson-Waite and Reese Cunningham.
A number of young children strutted their stuff on the stage in fancy dress, competing for the Janet Mabbutt Memorial Trophy. Graham Mabbutt and Janet Howe, the former head teacher at Lavendon School, were the judges and awarded first prize to Joshua Gillett (Mr Potato). Elizabeth Raymond (Pirate) was second and Joshua Raymond (Robin Hood) was third.
Another contingent of youngsters from the Lavendon School then took to the stage and performed a medley of three songs, which were imaginatively chosen and enthusiastically performed by children who were obviously enjoying the experience. The audience loved this mini-concert and were quick to show their appreciation of a professional performance. Congratulations to the children and also to the teachers. Some of the exhibits, donated by the 102 exhibitors, were then sold off at bargain prices, which again reinforced one of the aims of the Show: to provide an afternoon of good value entertainment. A couple of high-ticket items were auctioned: an MoT voucher, presented by Burrows’ garage and a huge bottle of extra virgin olive oil, presented by Far-Side Marketing. The draw was made for a Tusting bag and the winner was luckily in the audience and able to receive it from the Chairman of the Show Committee, Mrs Kath Collins. The amount of money raised for the Village Hall Charity was in the region of £850. The Committee wishes to thank everybody who contributed to this fun event; the sponsors, teachers and children of the Lavendon School, the judges who freely gave their time, the exhibitors, the behind-the-scene helpers and, of course, the visitors. See you all next year, John Salter.
“The Schoolmistress”
by Lavendon School (Childrens)
“Flower Pot”
by Ron Blomfield (Adult)
The Fancy Dress Competition
Phonebox Magazine 9