Last Saturday's garden show at the village hall was well up to the standards of recent years, with 155 entries (the second highest ever) from 41 different people, including several allotment holders showing their produce for the firs time.

Congratulations to club chairman Lionel Butcher, show secretary Sheila Campbell and their many helpers in the work of organising the show, providing teas and setting out and clearing up the hall afterwards.

Ruth Reed won the guess-the-weight pumpkin (16lb) and Colin Jackson, the Anniversary Cup for best exhibit for a basket of vegetables.

Special mention should perhaps be made of the very strong class for craft objects, won by Lionel Butcher with a beautifully made doll's house with garden. Tony Tinton's highly commended small wooden wheelbarrow is now owned and used as a planter by Robert and Chantal Crawford, and when it proved too awkward to get into a car, Robert wheeled it down the road from the Old Vicarage to the hall, plants and all!

Class results were: Teacup arrangement: 1 Sheila Campbell, 2 Barbara Meddows, highly commended, Jill Klee, Chantal Crawford; Flowering pot-plant: 1 C Crawford, 2 Anna Jackson, HC Eric Hollands; Foliage pot-plant: 1 Rita Holland, 2 Jane Walker, HC B Meddows; Alpine/rockery plant: 1 E Hollands; Bonsai Tree: 1 Phil Drake, 2 Deirdre Drake; Cactus/succulent: 1 C Crawford, 2 Elliott Senior, HC Abigail Senior. Vase of flowers: 1 C Crawford, 2 Margaret Rowlands, HC B Meddows; Single rose: 1 S Campbell, 2 J Walker, HC Julian Charley; Pansies: 1 C Crawford; Dessert apples: 1 Jim Nisbet, 2 E Hollands; Fruit - berries: 1 Lyn Clearwaters, 2 Julian Charley; Onions: 1 J Charley, 2 C Jackson; Garlic: HC Liz Senior; Red tomatoes: 1 Ann Mast, 2 C Crawford, HC J Nisbet; Potatoes: 1 N A Clearwaters, 2 J Jones, HC C Jackson; Runner beans: 1 L Clearwaters, 2 Heather Hayward, HC J Nisbet; Carrots: 1 E Hollands, 2 J Nisbet, HC Annie Reed; Vegetable collection: 1 C Jackson, 2 Lionel Butcher, HC J Charley, C Crawford, J Nisbet, L Senior; Herb collection: 1 C Crawford, 2 C Jackson, HC L Butcher, Jo Ogilvy; Raspberry jam: B Meddows, 2 C Crawford, HC Lyn Clearwaters; Marmalade: 1 C Jackson; Lemon cake: 1 Jill Klee, 2 C Crawford, HC M Rowlands; Home-made wine: 1 L Butcher; Craft object: 1 L Butcher, 2 B Meddows, HC Margaret de Bartolom, P Drake, J Klee, Lena Tinton, Tony Tinton; Photographs: Over the Fence: 1 Ken Walker, 2 R Hollands, HC B Meddows. Skyscape: 1 C Jackson, 2 Les Clarke, HC L Butcher, B Meddows, K Walker; Nature: 1 L Clarke, 2 C Crawford; Garden Detail: 1 S Campbell, 2 K Walker, HC L Clarke.

The Garden and Nature Club will be holding two more events this month. One is the open garden at the Old Vicarage, from 2.30pm this Sunday, September 19.

This is something not to be missed if you have not previously seen the wonderful creation of Robert and Chantal Crawford (and even if you have) - but let's hope the weather's kinder than in recent days!

Two days later, on Tuesday, September 21 at 7.30pm, the club's annual general meeting will take place in the Village Hall.

Our village hall may not be exactly the Royal Albert Hall, with its limited facilities, difficult access and lack of nearby parking. Nonetheless it is a much valued feature of community life and there are few days when it is not in use for one purpose or another.

It is managed by a dedicated and hardworking committee, who deserve support and encouragement.

The hall annual general meeting is on Monday week, September 27 (7.30pm) and a good turnout (and even a few volunteers to join the committee!) is sure to be appreciated.

Residents are so concerned by (believe it or not!) drivers speeding in Ebrington Road, where children play regularly, that they are investigating the possibility of putting up some warning notices.

The matter was raised by Coun Tony Tinton at Monday's parish council meeting. Other matters raised included the annual problem of hedges and trees overgrowing roads and footways in the village.

Ebrington Road, De Walden Road and Old Hollow were singled out, and residents asked to check whether their own were in need of cutting back.

It was also reluctantly decided not to accept the district council's offer to the parish council to hand over cleaning and maintenance of the public toilets at the Dingle after refurbishment.

This is mainly because had proved impossible to find a contractor will to take on the job.