This year we held the Competition in July. The Committee selected 22 gardens visible from the road for the Mayor to judge. He selected Peter & Anita Saunders of 10 Hamelton Close He also selected 1 Highly Commended 110 Merton Road along with 5 Commended. Along with the Town Council for the display in the flower tubs and hanging baskets in the High street.
THE WATTON SOCIETY WATTON IN BLOOM AWARD
What is this? Every year, in Spring, Summer or Autumn, the Watton Society committee and friends divide Watton into areas and look at the gardens that can be seen from the road with an outstanding display of colour. When the short list has been decided judging takes place, usually by the Mayor, who chooses the winner, the highly commended and the commended.
This year the winner was 10 Hamilton Close.
Highly commended was 110 Merton Road.
Commended were 9 Malthouse Close,14 Churchill Close, 51 Redhill Park, 220 Lovell Gardens, 27 Stevens Close.
The Town Council also received a Certificate for their displays in the town.
Even in difficult years people still manage to provide beautiful displays – well done.
Our picture shows the presentation of the salver to the winner by the Town Mayor Don Saunders and Chairman of the Watton Society, John Kerr.
THE WATTON SOCIETY VISIT TO ST PETER’S CHURCH MERTON
On the afternoon of Wednesday, 17th July members of the Watton Society and the Meet Watton Group spent a delightful few hour at the beautiful Merton Church. We were treated to a very informative talk about the church history and architecture as well as the village and the De Grey family. This was followed by a chance to walk about the church and outside to see the lovely views of the grounds and Merton Hall. To make the visit perfect we were then provided with refreshments including delicious cakes and sausage rolls. Thank you so much to the Merton group for a wonderful afternoon. We felt honoured to have been able to see and learn about this lovely church.
THE WATTON SOCIETY VISIT TO ST PETER’S CHURCH MERTON
On the afternoon of Wednesday, 17th July members of the Watton Society and the Meet Watton Group spent a delightful few hour at the beautiful Merton Church. We were treated to a very informative talk about the church history and architecture as well as the village and the De Grey family. This was followed by a chance to walk about the church and outside to see the lovely views of the grounds and Merton Hall. To make the visit perfect we were then provided with refreshments including delicious cakes and sausage rolls. Thank you so much to the Merton group for a wonderful afternoon. We felt honoured to have been able to see and learn about this lovely church.
This month we were treated to an illustrated talk by Revd. Jacqui Horton entitled …
“A Journey Round Iona” She gave us the history if the island along with how the islanders develop the island and its abbey with volunteers, which she did for two years back in the beginning of this decade, then returned last year to see the developments which we were shown with her images of then and now.
April Meeting 2024
This month Adam Clark came and gave us a talk about Bees, he keeps bees in Saham Toney and Ashill.
He told us how a hive is constructed and passed round some examples. He went on to tell us how the bees work and the different types of bee in each hive, and how the queen lays her eggs and the workers then seal the eggs in their cells. He went on to tell us about the year of a beekeeper, and the bees’ activities throughout the year. He told us of how the bees collecting the nectar inform the others of where the best pollen is by doing a dance in a figure of eight, the distance is depicted in the size of the eight and the direction from the hive using the sun in relation to the hive entrance. The hive entrance is also guarded by other bees to stop other insects, like wasps coming into the hive.
He ended by giving out some leaflets, showing the year and which plants produced the best pollen at which time of year and a leaflet telling us about trees useful to bees.
A very interesting and informative meeting.
This year’s competition was held in June, but due to the weather earlier in the year there were not so many gardens in bloom this year. However, we found about 36 for the Mayor to judge and he selected the winner as Mr. & Mrs Beeny of Byford Way, with three highly commended, one in Hamilton Close, one in Churchill Close and the other to the Town Council for the displays in the High Street and other flower boxes around the town.
This month we were treated to a talk about hearing dogs for the deaf by Veronica Colley along with her dog Logan.
Veronica laid a blanket in the corner which Logan then laid on and slept. Veronica then told us first about herself and her hearing difficulties and how the dogs helped.
She had learnt to lipread, this was very helpful in having a conversation,
But if she was at home alone and the doorbell rang, she would not hear it, but Logan would, and would come to her get her attention and head for the door, checking she was following him to the door. She also uses a kitchen timer for reminders of various things she needs to do at certain times, again Logan will come and get her attention and head off to the timer, again checking she has followed him.
She gave a member of the audience a Fire Alarm to be activated when she indicated, whilst telling us of how it would work. When the alarm was set off Logan awoke from his snooze on the rug, came up to Veronica, nudged her with his nose indicating an urgent exit.
When the dogs reach the age of 9 years a new dog is introduced first to check the two dogs get on OK, if so the two work together and the new dog slowly takes over the roll of “Hearing Dog” and the original one becomes a pet.
This was a very informative talk along with some practical demonstrations.
Film Night
We welcomed back again this year Phil Slater with some of his 8- and 16-mm film clips. The clips he showed us were of the Fens in 1972 about the drainage and agriculture of this flat, dry, low-lying region of eastern England. With visits to some of the towns and villages. This was followed by A Car is Born 1959: – How British were designed and tested prior to production. Pluss the road testing and launch of the New Triumph Herald. Then a clip from 1957 “The Lights Must Not Go Out” About the decline in cinemas at the time.
A clip from The Jungle book – were Baloo tries to rescue Mowgli from the apes.
Finishing the evening with A visit to London 1938 were we visited The Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, London Zoo, and Piccadilly Circus. Rounding of with The West End at night with a bit of a West End Show.
We look forward to welcoming Phil back next year for some more interesting and historic clips.