NOT many people arrive at an AGM with a plate of food in one hand, and an enormous parsnip in the other!

However, this was Cheriton Fitzpaine Garden Club’s December meeting, and the winners of the Great Parsnip Challenge were to be announced.

Chairman Paula Mossman gave a short speech thanking all the members and their families and friends who had worked so hard to produce two successful shows, an outing to the Walled Garden at Cannington, and a social evening at Barry and Maureen Evershed Martin’s home.

An extra, and very successful event had been the 50/50 Sale, raising money for our 90th Anniversary Celebrations to be held on June 18, 2016.

After the formal business of electing a committee and receiving the audited accounts, the winner of the Parsnip Challenge was announced as Catherine Devenish from Cadeleigh with a whopper weighing 4lbs 3ozs.

We decided that the soil must be better North of the village!

The booby prize for the oddest looking parsnip went to Yvonne Clayton.

The trophy was presented to Catherine by Sheila Handy, whose great uncle Mr R Raymont was reported in the local press on December 3, 1941 as growing a parsnip weighing 4lbs 5ozs (two ounces more than Catherine’s specimen).

Sheila told us a little of the history of her family (researched by local historian Ellie Babbedge). They first arrived here in the 1500’s. Mr. Raymont was one of 12 children and worked as a Rat Catcher!

Our next meeting, in 2016, will be on Thursday, February 18, in the Parish Hall, when member and noted Show prizewinner, Nick Hockey, will be sharing some of his hints on Showing.

Members are asked to bring a pudding to share, and Treasurer, David Nunn, will be collecting Annual Subscriptions - still only £10.

Mary Nunn