Yapton & District Cottage Gardeners Society:
July 2010 Newsletter

1 Elm Cottages, Church Road, Yapton, ARUNDEL, West Sussex, BN18 0EW

Dear member.

It is hard to believe we are already half way through our Show calendar, or as Carol has reminded me only one more Bank Holiday before Christmas - with comments like that the girl needs to go, and she says she is quite willing to oblige. Anyway, as I was saying with two successful shows behind us we now need to concentrate on our biggest event the Annual Show.
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With the weather as it has been we can only hope and pray that this little break in the weather of wind, rain, and cold is a temporary blip and that Saturday 14th August is at very least dry, warm and no wind. As with any event and in particular the August show we do appeal for volunteers, be it to assist with setting up the tables and the Society's marquees on the Friday 13th August, running a stall, be a steward to assist the judges (that is a useful way of finding out tips in what they are looking for with exhibits) or to dismantle the event on Saturday evening. If you are able to assist with any of these tasks please do not hesitate to contact me on 01243 552 822. Should I be unable to get to the phone, you can leave your name, telephone number and a brief message after the tone, and I will come back to you. .
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So what does the show offer in the way of classes for Exhibitors? Well the sections range from fruit and vegetables, flowers including dahlias and pot plants, floral art, handicraft, photography, cookery, wine and beer and last but certainly not least, a broad selection of classes for Children. I am sure you will agree there is something for everyone - take a look at some of your photographs, I think we all have at least one subject in our collection - photographs of wildlife these do not need to be animals we see in the Countryside, perhaps you have visited a zoo or Safari Park or even been on Safari. In the past home-made wine and beers exhibits have been in the decline and the Committee have been forced to delete these classes at other shows. We are reluctant to go down this road for the Annual Show, so please encourage home brewers to exhibit.

Outside of the main marquee, we hope to have an assortment of attractions; these will include grand draw, a mini style farmers market, classic cars and tractors, weather permitting Ice Cream Van, and traction engines. Inside the village hall (Janet Phillips Hall) there will be a model railway display, farm display, and some tables selling goods including designer jewellery which is very competitively priced. Of course a village show would not be the same without cream teas, which Terry and his team will be selling all afternoon - keep him busy I cannot have him standing around idle - only joking Terry well about the idle bit.
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The economic climate as it is, does affect everyone including our Society. Whilst we have sufficient funds to certainly put on this year's events, the funds are just holding their own. With your help we can secure the future of the Society so do please support us on the 14th August. Another way you can support us, I appreciate some of you may not wish to participate, is by selling some grand draw tickets. I have taken the opportunity of including 1 book of tickets per news letter and if you are able to sell a complete book, £5 will go into the Society's account. I would ask that all sold or unsold tickets are returned to me by Wednesday 11th August 2010. Likewise should you require further books please give me a ring.

At a recent Committee Meeting we discussed sponsorship. Whilst we have sponsors for the Schedule we are looking for other Businesses or individuals to sponsor classes or sections within the Schedule. This need not be just attributed to the Annual Show but all shows. So if you are a lover of spring flowers then perhaps you would like to sponsor something in the spring show.

Sponsorship for classes equates to the prize money so for example if you wish to sponsor a single class, the cost would be £:2 unless you choose a class which attracts higher prize money e.g. Annual show class 46 Progress Class when sponsorship would be £3.25. The names of the Sponsors will appear on the Show Bench for the remaining shows in the current schedule including the Spring Show 2011.

Another date for your diary is the return of the Yetties to Yapton on Friday 10th December. Their concert will be a sing-a-long to Christmas songs and Carols, and no doubt some folk tales. On a sad note, the Yetties are retiring but it would be great if Yapton could give them a good send off. Further details will follow but if you would like to provisionally book seats, again please do not hesitate to contact me.

With so many events and other distractions we have not been chasing members who have not yet paid their subscriptions for this year. If you have forgotten please send £5 along with your name and address to Carol Humphrey 57 Belloc Road, Littlehampton, BN17 7EZ and a schedule and membership card will be sent to you, thank you for your cooperation in this matter. .

That's it for now I'm off to check my beans and beetroot ready for the show and dig out my Brownie Box camera to take some pictures for the photographic section, who needs digital these days. I could have entered some wine but I drank it writing this newsletter, oh well always next year and I hope to see you all on the 14th.

Best Wishes

Chairman