Newsline Winter 2002

The Committee has a long list of people to thank, now that this year’s Show is over. Firstly, everybody who helped either on the day, or in some other way during the year and to our guests who gave up time to present prizes or collect Trauma Teddies. Next the army of knitters whodonated bears to Lister Hospital for their appeal; we had almost 80 and it was lovely to see the range of characters that people had created using the same pattern. Also our families, who frequently get roped in for some job or other, or receive panic phone calls from events because we have forgotten something or had a last minute ‘bright idea’. Last, but not least, our entrants and the people who visited us during the afternoon; we could not put on a show without you.

Before the show, a lot of work goes into putting the new schedule together, organising judges, checking on staging, compiling the quiz and trying to keep our name in the public eye. On the night before the show, in the middle of getting the hall ready, positioning tables and stitching material, the odd person has been heard to mutter something along the lines of ‘why are we doing this?’ On the Saturday morning though, once all the entries have arrived and everything is ready for the judges, we know it has all been worthwhile.

Once the Show is over, everything has to be packed away for another year and it always amazes us how much quicker this job is than setting up! Well-laden and tired committee can then be seen tottering homeward, hopefully to put their feet up for a short time.

Yet again, the hall looked lovely and we had some wonderful entries. Some memorable moments will be the supermarket trolley full of Trauma Teddies, a castle so large that it almost didn’t get through the door, the amount of Velcro one can use staging photographs and the smell of herbs.

It is not just the Committee who appreciate the effort that all our entrants have put in. We hear so many comments admiring the ideas and work. Children also love seeing what everybody else has done and are proud to see their items displayed amongst all the others.

The Craft and Produce Show is not just hard work, it is also a social event - as a Committee we must have drunk quite a few cups of tea and coffee over the year while getting everything organised. Looking around the Hall on the day of the Show itself, it is obvious that it is also a chance for people to catch up with others they haven’t seen for a while.

This is being written on the day after this year’s show and in ten days time, the work for next year’s Show will start. Our first job will be to discuss comments that people have made about this year and thoughts we have been given for next year. We try to have a variety of things to cover different interests and we would welcome possible ideas for classes for our new schedule. Committee members can be contacted on 01462 812803 or 01462 814702.