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Long Marston Midsummer Picnic 2013

Could you be the next Horti Show Secretary?

FLOWER & PRODUCE SHOW

NEEDS YOUR HELP

The Long Marston Village show has been running a flower and produce exhibition since 1936, but is now looking for a new Show Secretary to run the hall.

This a key position in the community and needs someone who is prepared to help set up and run the Village Hall on show day  (the first Saturday in August).

 Any interested parties should contact Martin Winship 01296 662388 or Margaret Kaye 01296 662975.

Village Show Plant Stall.

PLANT DONATIONS

 The Village Show is well known locally for its annual plant stall that raises funds for good causes in the area.

WE NEED YOUR PLANTS

All contributions of surplus plants, seedlings, etc can be donated via our chairman, Martin Winship on 662388 / martinwinship@live.co.uk

Huge Tug-of-War Battle at the Village Show.

PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!

This Year’s Long Marston Village Show will involve a huge tug-of-war battle between the Pub side of the village and the School side.

 Why not get a grip and have a go or tie your colours to your side of the village and support your team. 

All age groups and sexes welcome.

100 Years of RHS Chelsea

Following our latest meeting, the theme for this year’s show has been decided as a celebration of 100 years of the great spring show, more commonly known as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Although originally created in 1862, the show lost its central London home in 1912, but the horticulturalist Sir Harry Veitch, who designed the gardens at Ascott House, Wing, organised it to be moved to the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. Throughout its time, the central core of the show has been the floral exhibitions in the Great Pavilion but is best known for its myriads of show gardens and is now the central floral show of the Royal Horticultural Society.

As usual, there are a variety of classes that people can enter at our annual Flower and Produce Show in August. We will be producing a show programme soon that is delivered free to every home in the area and contains all the details that you need to enter all the different classes, so why not come along and have a go. After judging, the Village Hall becomes an exhibition of produce for all to come and see.

Article by Toby Davidson.

Article for the Village News – April 2013

At our March meeting, we heard extremely favourable comments about the Neil Gurney Pantomime Spectacular the previous month, several people commenting that it was the best ever! The turnout on the Saturday was also full of locals who turned up to say thank you to our long-standing postman, Dave Grove, who came as our special guest. During the audience participation song (where the words got mysteriously lost in the post!), Dave was presented with an engraved tankard with the inscription “Dave the Postie” Best Wishes for A Long & Happy Retirement From your friends in Long Marston.

 Time moves on and the Horti are busy preparing other events that we hope to put on in 2013. Our main event as usual will be the Annual Village Show. Although planning is in its infancy, we are hoping to rearrange the Jazzercise exhibition which went down well last year and the possibility of Morris dancing returning to the arena. The flower and produce show in the Village Hall also goes ahead and we hope to provide guidelines for entry into the show over the coming months.

There is also plans to build on the wonderful Jubilee year of 2012 by holding a Midsummer Picnic on Saturday June 15^th. The whole idea of this is to create an informal get-together for all the villagers of Long Marston on the recreation ground behind the Village Hall where everyone can relax, meet new friends and create a sense of community spirit. We hope to put on some games for people to play, including our space hoppers and would be grateful for any ideas on what could be put on.

We are also in the process of working with all the community groups in Long Marston to create a facebook page to run alongside are marvellous website, www.longmarston.org, to help publicise events taking place during the year. We are also running a competition to win £50! All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is email our chairman, Martin Winship, with your address (martinwinship@live.co.uk) or pop a note through his door (13 Marston Court). Good Luck!

On the subject of sports, the Queens Head Golf Society have just come back from a rain-soaked weekend away which had to be abandoned on the Sunday because of snow! There will also be a football match being played on the recreation ground on Friday 12^th April at 6pm between the ‘Pub’ side and the ‘School’ side of the main road, dependant on where you live. All are welcome to come and support on the day with both sides fielding teams with varying ‘football’ abilities!

There is in any community, be they in town or in the countryside, a thriving underbelly of events taking place for those that want to join in. I have however recently noticed an upsurge in events being held to raise money for World Challenge. This is a worthwhile cause for the youngsters who learn valuable life skills whilst learning the value of fundraising in order to realise their goals. I recently attended a delicious pop-up restaurant and played “Rock’N’Roll” Bingo in the pub. Long may these events continue!

Article for the Village News – February 2013.

A very Happy New Year to all our readers from The Long Marston & Puttenham Horticultural Society. Here’s hoping all made it through the festive period and are now looking forward to a successful 2013 and the impending delight that is our annual village Pantomime!

This year we are staging ‘Sinbad the Sailor’ over the February half-term holiday and it is looking like another knockout production from the amazing Neil Gurney. With all the fun of a traditional pantomime, including great song and dance numbers, side-splitting slapstick and of course the obligatory sweets, this must be an essential part of any local’s diary this month. We start on Thursday 21^st then Friday 22^nd, both at 8pm, followed by 2 performances on Saturday 23^rd, at 2pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are available now at the Queens Head in Long Marston and both the Community Shop and Meads Farm Shop in Wilstone. Prices have been held at £6 Adults, £4 Senior Citizens & £3 for Children. For details, Please call 07855 369515.

A major production like this however requires a lot of help putting it all together. We have a hardy band of willing volunteers who help in all aspects from Costumes to Scenery, but we would still welcome anyone who would like to join us. We will be at Wilstone Village Hall for the next two Sundays (3^rd & 10^th Feb) and then move to Long Marston the following weekend for a week of rehearsals before the opening night on the Thursday. We need people to help with such things as make-up, scenery shifting, or even selling raffle tickets and programmes. If you can help IN ANY WAY, please contact Vicky Hayes on 01296 661586 or Toby Davidson on 07970 636168.

The Horti also have a number of other events planned during the year, including the annual village show and a midsummer picnic on the recreation ground. More details to follow next month.

Article by Toby Davidson.

LMPHS – List of Stage Productions.

Please see below for a list of stage productions by the Long Marston & Puttenham Horticultural Society.

1989

Aladdin

1990

Dick Whittington

1991

So Doff Your Hat (adult review)

Peter Pan (cast of children only)

1992

Sleeping Beauty

1993

Sinbad

“Review a la Pantomonium”

1994

Humpty Dumpty

Christmas Entertainment

1995

Jack & the Beanstalk

1996

Cinderella

1997

Robin Hood & the Babes in the Wood

1998

Mother Goose

Christmas Entertainment

1999

Aladdin

2000

Dick Whittington

2001

Beauty & the Beast

2002

Sinbad

2003

Sleeping Beauty

2004

Jack & the Beanstalk

2005

Cinderella

2006

Robin Hood & the Babes in the Wood

2007

Mother Goose

2008

Aladdin

2009

Beauty & the Beast

2010

Dick Whittington

2011

Humpty Dumpty

2012

Cinderella

2013

Sinbad

Sinbad by Neil Gurney – 21st to 23rd February.

TICKETS FROM: THE QUEEN’S HEAD, LONG MARSTON; WILSTONE VILLAGE STORES OR MEAD FARM SHOP, WILSTONE, OR SUNDAYS 2 – 5pm AT THE VICTORY HALL. ENQUIRIES: 07855 369515

Article for the Village News – December 2012.

After the Fabulous Fireworks display (Thanks David!) at the start of the month, one’s mind turns to the Christmas season and the Horti’s annual ‘Carols round the tree’ evening on Tuesday 18^th December. Once again we will have a live band playing the carols and a visit from Santa with presents for the children as well as free mulled wine and mince pies to help you join in the singing! I would however like to encourage anybody from the villages who plays an instrument, preferably brass, to join in with the band. If you are interested, you must call Toby Davidson on 07970 636168 at least a week before the event.

With no village magazine in January, the Horti are once again looking for volunteers to help us put on our annual pantomime. Our production for 2013 will be ‘Sinbad the Sailor’ and will be performed during the February half term holiday (21^st–23^rd). However, this is a huge undertaking for a dedicated body of people who need your help.  As is the case in all walks of life, our core of helpers is getting no younger and we are seeking some fresh blood to help us continue putting on all our village activities during the year. Although grateful for people who can commit more of their time, volunteering to help us need not be the commitment you may think. For example, maybe you could help by making one set of uniforms for the chorus – or come over to Wilstone for one Sunday in January to help paint the scenery and props. There is also ample opportunity to display your acting skills by becoming an actor.

I am not asking for you to make yourself available over a long period, just offer us a few hours of your time to help during the post-Christmas period. If you can offer us any help, please contact either Vicky Hayes on 01296 661586 or Toby Davidson on 07970 636168 or preferably come to our pre-panto meeting at Long Marston Victory Hall on Sunday 2^nd December at 5pm.

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