CHERITON Fitzpaine Garden Club has had a very busy month. Our July meeting took the form of a Workshop "The Do’s and Don’ts of how to show exhibits".

When members arrived at the Parish Hall, our Chairman Andrew Dean and Show Secretary Ann Nixon had laid out the hall as if for a show, with examples of vegetables, flowers and plants.

Members were invited to guess which entries would win, and why. Andrew and Ann then gave short presentations on how to present various vegetables, flowers and plants, before Susan Tucker demonstrated some flower arranging.

During the evening, Andrew congratulated long-time member and Vice President, Mary Nunn, on being awarded the BEM for Services to First Aid in Devon. Much to her surprise, she was presented with a bouquet of flowers.

The evening was a very successful, informative and sociable one, and we are all very grateful to Andrew and Ann for their hard work.

On a very hot afternoon, a good number of members met in the gardens of the Village School to help with the Potato Competition.

It was 45 years ago that the late Ron Carr, farmer and Garden Club member, instigated the Carr Shield for Children’s Potato growing.

Ron was always keen for young people to understand where their food came from. The competition has continued in one form or another ever since, and with the school numbers rising to 80, has become quite a challenge to organise!

Earlier in the year, a small group of Garden Club members had met at the school to provide each child with a pot, compost and a seed potato, and shown them how to look after them.

Each class came to claim their pots under the leadership of Fay Williams, the organiser of the School Garden Club, and the operation went smoothly, although I fear the boys’ white tea shirts will never be the same again!

The following day, at a special assembly, Jean Carr, widow of Ron, was driven to the school by members, and was entertained with tea and cakes before the presentations. The Tonkin family swept the board, with Belle, Archie and Harry all receiving prizes.

Results were: Heaviest Crop - seven and under: 1 Belle Tonkin, 2 Harriet Moger, 3 Grace Mannion.

Eight and over: 1 Harry Tonkin, 2 Archie Tonkin, 3 Paige.

Heaviest Single Potato: 1 Belle Tonkin 31.5g, 2 Archie Tonkin 31.3g, 3 Harry Tonkin 29.7g.

The overall winner of the Carr Shield for heaviest potato crop of 2019 was Belle Tonkin with 1.920g.

Charles and Paula explained to the children how, by feeding and watering their entries regularly, some entrants had done better than others. We hope to repeat it next year.

A Children’s Flower Arranging Workshop, to be run by Susan Tucker, is to be held on Wednesday, August 14 at 2.30pm in the Parish Hall. All materials provided, although if you wish to take flowers that will be fine.

The Summer Show, will be held in the Parish Hall, on Saturday, August 17 at 2.30pm. Entry is free and there will be tea and cake, children’s entertainment and a raffle.

Mary Nunn