Late August is the most popular time for village shows in England. Today Shirley and I drove out to the nearby village of Grindleford in the valley of The River Derwent. It was a small show without animals.
There was a large awning under which the Hathersage Brass Band were seated - including our next door neighbour Tony who plays the french horn. See above.
There were various stalls representing good causes and village groups. We bought tickets for tombolas and just as we were leaving we managed to win a bottle of mulled wine. There was also a puppet show for small children run by an elderly man called "The Great Davido". It had not started up by the time we left.
In the main marquee various prizes had been awarded in different categories and they were displayed on tables. The winner in "A Table Centre" display is shown above and below believe it or not is the winner in the "Animal Image" category for the under fives. No help from mum or dad.
Below is the winner in the "Organically grown vegetables" display category.
There was another marquee where Shirley and I bought lunch with beakers of tea. Freshly baked items included fresh scones with clotted cream and homemade jam plus rhubarb cake and sausage rolls.
Village shows are, I think, a peculiarly British affair. The weather stayed nice at Grindleford which I am pleased about because the organising committee must have worked hard to pull it all together.
On the bric-a-brac stall, Shirley spotted a little plastic push-along car occupied by Peppa Pig, George, Daddy Pig and Mummy Pig. Phoebe is delighted with it. Below, you can see Tony blowing his horn, right in the middle of the picture. We often hear him practising and have never been irritated once. He's a lovely man and we admire his dedication to the band.
That all sounds so wonderful! The closest thing to that here would probably be our autumn state fairs that always happen around the country, but they're not that localized. Yours looks intimate and just...lovely. I wish I could go.
ReplyDeleteIf you fly over this week you will be able to attend both Froggat Show and Hope Show. I will pick you up from Manchester Airport. Just tell me the time.
DeleteLooks like a nice, fun, easy way to spend a day!
ReplyDeleteYes.Very pleasant. Nice and innocent - harking back to past decades.
DeleteI remember a few Country Fairs from when I was very young. Mum would insist on us going so Dad would drive and we'd have a great time for about an hour. I don't think Australia does these anymore.
ReplyDeleteA "country fair" sounds altogether a bigger thing. I guess that you were in the back grumbling, "Are we nearly there yet?"
DeleteNever, we weren't allowed to say that. Mostly I just held a bucket in case I got sick. Siblings on either side just looked out the windows, maybe they counted cars or cows.
DeleteA gentle English show afternoon, the sun shines and people display their talent. So different from the rough media world of nonsense news.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like the bedrock of life - something solid and pleasant.
DeleteI love village shows! The village fêtes we have here (at O.K.‘s village) are similar except for the prize winning bit, and no tea - more beer and wine, I must admit. There is always music, there are food and drink stalls and beer tents, and often various groups and clubs active in the village will either have a stall selling bric a brac or books, or they will perform on stage, singing or dancing.
ReplyDeleteGood weather is of course essential.
Alcohol at an English village show ist verboten! But otherwise your German village shows sound quite similar.
DeleteBrass bands are struggling for numbers now. Ours is mainly woodwind.
ReplyDeleteI thought you would be blowing your own trumpet.
Deletetheres really nothing as lovely as a brass band and a sunny day. Add afternoon tea and it's the stuff of dreams
ReplyDeleteDreamlike - you could forget the external stuff and noise for a couple of hours.
DeleteA great afternoon out and in lovely weather too. Good to see that such an English tradition is still being upheld.
ReplyDeleteIt was so civilised. Everyone was so nice to each other - "thank you" and "please" and pleasantness.
DeleteQuintessentially English. I love summer fairs.
ReplyDeleteAlways best when the weather is kind.
DeleteI am so undone by everything happening in the US now that I can't even imagine anything that civilized and peaceful happening here. Be grateful you live in such a place.
ReplyDeleteYes. "Civilised and peaceful" describes the show perfectly Mary. I wish that life itself could always be just like a village show.
DeleteThe closest equivalent here would be the small town fairs. That flower display but I love the animal image the best. Looks like a lovely afternoon.
ReplyDeleteThe mountain you called a beast is Mount Robson. We head to the island today
Very English, and yet very similar to county fairs in the USA (although they usually have rides and animals, and being countywide are somewhat larger affairs).
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite parts of summers is all the outdoor music around to listen too.
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