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Newsletter and Reports |
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The Badsey Society produce a quarterly newsletter for its members. These are distributed to members in Badsey and Aldington. For Society members outside Badsey and Aldington the content of the latest newsletter is printed below. Badsey Society
Newsletter No. 17 Editor: Maureen Spinks It's Badsey Flower Show on Saturday 22nd July. Come and visit at us at our bigger-than-ever stand. This year, we have used some of the money received from the Local Heritage Initiative grant to buy a double-size gazebo, which means that there will be more room for you to browse at our exhibition stands, view copies of the Enclosure Maps, find out information about roads and houses in Badsey and Aldington, and watch clips of the new asparagus DVD. Badsey Guides' 50th Anniversary On March 2006, Badsey Guides officially celebrated their 50th birthday. How could this be, you might well ask, when it comes to light that the Guides started in 1930? Society member, Elizabeth Bolland and the person responsible for guiding in Badsey for the past 30 years, tells us the story and has sent us the following report. The 1st Badsey Guides was officially started by Mary Florence Charlotte King (sister of the late Henry King of Bretforton Road, Badsey) on 20th March 1930, but was disbanded in 1950 after 20 years. Mrs Elizabeth Bolland reopened the Unit in April 1976 and, after 30 years is still the Guide Leader. Many local girls have been in Badsey Guides and the Unit continues to be as popular as ever. This was demonstrated at the recent 50th Anniversary Special Event on 15th March 2006, held at the Badsey Remembrance Hall when the hall was absolutely filled to capacity with many having to stand. The audience included many ex guides, ex adult helpers and one original Guide from the 1930s. Exhibits, including many photographs, were on display, which brought back happy memories to those who had gathered to celebrate. The audience, which included the Evesham Town Mayor and her Consort, along with the current Guides' parents and families, were treated to a display of marching and Guide uniforms from 1909 to the present day. A pantomime entitled "Rats" was performed which was followed by a dancing display depicting the past 50 years. The evening in the hall finished with a disco. The Badsey Bell Ringers decided that it was of village importance, so they rang out that evening in celebration of the event. Scouting Tales Are there any old Boy Scouts out there with tales to tell? Whilst Scouts in Badsey only started in the late 1940s, it is actually the 100th anniversary of the whole Scouting movement next year, so please send in your memories. Reg Kyte (1920-2006) and Roger Davies (1944-2006) We are sorry to report the recent deaths of two of our members. Reg Kyte, an Evesham man, became well known in Badsey during his many years as church organist and choirmaster. Roger Davies will be remembered as a person who was always willing to help others and the very large attendance at his funeral was an indication of the esteem in which he was held. We extend our condolences to both families. War-time Memories Back in January, we asked if anyone had any war-time memories to relate. Geoff Brooks has provided us with information about some slightly unusual "servicemen" of the Second World War. You won't find their names on any War Memorial, but they had a significant war-time role. Did you know that pigeons played a vital part in the Second World War? As a message carrier, the homing pigeon had played an important role for many thousands of years. With the coming of new means of communications in the 19th and early 20th centuries, however, the civilian pigeon post began to disappear but pigeons remained a vital means of communication in times of war. Pigeons were used by the Royal Air Force as standard equipment on all bomber and reconnaissance planes and by the army and intelligence services. In total, 200,000 pigeons were supplied to the National Pigeon Service. Some of those pigeons were from Badsey. The Sadler brothers, Charles (Jerry), Henry (Tot) and Arthur (Shaddy) were keen pigeon-fanciers and kept pigeon-lofts at the rear of Bully Brook House on Willersey Road. After the war, in July 1946, one of the pigeons took part in the Bordeaux Race and came fourth in the second section (British Isles) Open; the brothers won £174 in prize money. And talking of wars ... A talk by Colonel John Lowles of the Worcestershire Regiment, with specific reference to the men of Badsey who fought and fell during the first world war will take place at Badsey Church in November (date to be confirmed). This replaces the talk from Judith Curthoys, the archivist of Christ Church Library. Judith hopes to come to Badsey at a later date, as she is currently tied-up due to the arranging the long-term storage of their archive whilst the new repository is built.
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THE SHOW MUST GO ON Words ands pictures from Maureen Spinks It rained and it rained and it rained. Lightning ripped through the air and the thundered rumbled ominously. And then as if it hadn’t rained enough, it rained a bit more! There’s never been a Flower Show like it, you could say, which was a huge disappointment for everyone, not least the organisers who had put in so much hard work throughout the year. Just as the gates opened at 1 o’clock, the heavens opened, and people were marooned wherever they happened to be at the time. 
At The Badsey Society tent, Will Dallimore used one of the exhibits to remove the water from the roof of the gazebo. A few stands away, the stall-holders at the “Mind” stand, were putting a brave face on it. 
The Vicar came well-prepared. It’s all very well praying for rain after the heatwave of the last few weeks, but didn’t anyone tell him he might have specified "any day except Flower Show Day, please"! 
Meanwhile, George Sangha from the Spar was left with the simple job of opening the fete – a task that proved remarkably difficult on such a rain-soaked day. Neil Thould’s brolly came in useful, but it still didn’t stop the rain from coming down.  
The PA system had packed up by this time, so Gordon Lashford resorted to taking shelter in the Judges’ marquee. The bar was at least doing some business, whilst the WI ladies were still smiling as usual (though they did have the luxury of a proper roof over their head!).  
At least some younger people boosted the Flower Show’s takings. Jonathan Spinks and Calum Wilson remained undaunted by the empty arena and shrinking stands and carried on enjoying themselves in the true British spirit. And just like on the Titanic – the band played on!  
The prize-giving at the end saw a fifth of the cups and trophies being scooped up by Badsey Society members. Elizabeth Bolland (front garden), Lynn Gibson (floral art), Tony Spinks (photography), Brian Smith (wine-making) and Will Dallimore (literature) proudly display their trophies. A number of other Society members gained prizes, including Grant Stevens-Bulmer, who is determined to beat his mother next year in the flower-arranging section.  
A big thank you to everyone involved with the organisation of the Flower Show. We hope your spirits have not been dampened too much. Here’s to a better than ever show next year. |
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