The VPA lives on!

Dear Members                 

The VPA is looking forward to 2023 after all

Villagers have stepped forward to save the VPA.  We feel very fortunate to be able to send a positive news item following the last one which was very bleak.  Following a big push via social media and the various LG e-news items we have had several people get in touch offering a variety of helpful and supporting ideas.  THANK YOU to everyone and ongoing we very much welcome people coming forward to lend a hand, no matter how short a period of time you can spare.

Firstly, the Committee have been sorry to say goodbye to Lin Underwood and Stuart Buchanan-Barrow.  It goes without saying that we owe a great debt of gratitude to these two departing Committee Members, Lin having been Store Manager for the last 3 years and Stuart, Treasurer for 6 years, both have done a sterling job and are in the process of handing over to the new Committee. An enormous thank you as you move onto other projects.  The last store opening for the year was 11 December where visitors were able to enjoy a cup of mulled wine or a coffee.

Going forward we are pleased to say Elliott Bachmann will be our new Store Manager and Kate Filippidis is our new Treasurer. In addition Faye Robinson, Rachel Heaphy, Stephanie Royal, Glenda Cooper, Emily Hinde and Tim Crossley-Smith have all joined the Committee.  Alastair Greene, Janet Stinton and June Abraham have all remained on the committee and Stasia Parker has kindly agreed to continue supporting us on Social Media. We also have a number of volunteers who have said they are happy to help either with events or in the store on Sunday mornings.  A WhatsApp group is being set up to include all store volunteers to assist with instant communications and if you would like to be included please get in touch at hello@lgvpa.org

Now that we have a strong Committee and a new roof on the store (electrics to be done soon) we are in a good position to move forward. At our initial meet up with new people there was a strong desire to hold the Winter Show. This involves a lot of organisation, however the date is now in the calendar – Saturday 4 February 2023, so please put the date in your nice new diary also allowing time the previous week and in the lead up to the 4 February to prepare your entries. If every household were to put just one entry into the show we would have a bumper record of entries which would be great fun for members and visitors alike.

The usual classes will be there, cooking and preserves, wines and spirits, floral art, photography, children’s classes and pet classes. More details will follow. As the future of the VPA was uncertain, we do not know if exhibitors will have fruit and vegetables to enter.  It would help us in the final preparation of the programme if you can give an indication of any likely produce suitable for entry by emailing: vpa-show@lgvpa.org

During our closed period if you need any supplies, particularly the popular bird food, please email: store@lgvpa.org and we can organise your order. Payment by card, cheque or cash is welcomed.  Currently we plan to re-open in February 2023.

As you will recall in the past we have often awarded local good causes a donation and with the year-end upon us we felt in a position to make the following awards:  The Hospice of St Francis, Rennie Grove Hospice, Horatio’s Garden (Stoke Mandeville Hospital), Westcroft House (Tring) and Riding for the Disabled (RDA, Gaddesden Place), each receiving £400 which we hope will help in a variety of ways towards the services they each provide on a shoe-string budget.

Thank you and Happy Christmas to all our members from the VPA Committee.   

Village Produce Association (VPA) Store to close?

Dear Members of the VPA

What a sad heading this is!

After three years looking after the Store our manager Lin  Underwood is now stepping down. Her last time in the store will be 11 December 2022. We are very grateful to Lin for her guidance and enthusiasm in managing and developing the business.

Also, Stuart Buchanan-Barrow has decided to step down from the Treasurer duties he commenced over six years ago. Just as Lin has done with the store, Stuart has with books and accounts, keeping the records in excellent order and steering us forward, with a good watchful eye on incoming and outgoing money requirements which has been essential.

Consequently we are in urgent need of volunteers to fill those shoes.

To keep the Store running we need someone to manage the ordering of stock, store opening, either by being present personally, or by ensuring a rota of volunteers is covering Sunday mornings between 10 am and 12 noon (the current opening times of the store).

Our sales, which cover all things to make gardening successful, plus the very popular bird food selection, continue to deliver profits to the VPA funds and we have a turnover of c.£5,000pa.

In order that we have a smooth handover we need someone to step up straightaway for both of these roles.

Please contact any committee member to discuss what is required.  If we do not receive any interest in helping with these requirements the store will not be able to function and will close for good on December 11th.

Lin Underwood: store@lgvpa.org

Alastair Greene: membership@lgvpa.org or 843667

June Abraham: info@lgvpa.org or 07760144057

Stuart Buchanan-Barrow: 843602

Janet Stinton: 842218

The Store, which is situated next to the Village Hall, is the heart of the VPA and alongside that we run events like the May Plant Sale, the Winter and Summer Shows and the always popular Harvest Supper and Quiz night.

We have continually flagged up the need for volunteers and thankfully we have been able to run with a very small Committee in recent years.  However, the need to have someone(s) undertake the organisation of the Store is a critical one.

The remaining Sunday opening days are: 30/10, 06/11, 20/11, 27/11, 04/12 and 11/12/2022.

Are there some entrepreneurial young people out there that could get involved and learn about stock ordering, pricing and selling on a small scale which would enhance a CV?  You do not need to have a knowledge of gardening but need to be prepared to learn the basics to keep the Store viable.

If anyone has any ideas or can contribute to mapping out a possible strategy for the Store to continue we are all ears and very much wish to hear from you, now.

Your Committee

[lgvpa.org]

Harvest Supper and Quiz success

A week ago already …….. for those who couldn’t attend, we all had a really fun evening. The hall looked great having been decorated by Janet’s expert hands, with arrangements on every table along with hanging window wreaths all in splendid autumn colours.

Everyone was welcomed with a drink to settle at their table, agree a table name for the quiz, start on the answers for the table picture quiz and their pate starter (courtesy of Glenda, one of her specialities). A couple of rounds were completed before the break for supper (courtesy of Julia Maddox and her super team) which was excellent and thoroughly enjoyed. Shaun McCarthy kept everything on schedule and together with his fun-loving approach. It seemed everybody enjoyed the quiz rounds, whether they scored high or low. This year we had twelve tables mainly of 8 and a turnout of 90 folk in total.

The scoring was kept on target with Lin, Judie and Lin in charge. The winning table was Short Planks, (regaining the trophy from last year); in second place were the Sausage Rolls, and third place went to Barking Mad. Congratulations to everyone for taking part.

Whilst the final scores were gathered, the raffle, organised and managed by Janet, was drawn enabling some to take home a prize as well as memories of the evening.

Thank you very much for your support, we hope to see you again soon.

The VPA Committee: Janet, June, Lin, Alastair & Stuart.

If you wish to get in touch with us, we would really like to hear from you: hello@lgvpa.org

Harvest Supper and Quiz night

Saturday 1st October. Little Gaddesden Village Hall.

Doors open at 6.00pm, quiz starts at 6.30

Three course meal, quiz, raffle and a welcoming glass of Prosecco, all for £22 per head.

Quiz host Shaun McCarthy will run the quiz, Janet the raffle and Julia Maddox the catering. This year it is bring your own drink, we’ll supply the glasses.

We will have ten tables of eight but if you haven’t got an eight, we will be able to create a team for you to join, so whether you are singles, couples or full teams, buy your tickets now to avoid missing out on the night.

Tickets can be purchased from Alastair Greene 843667 (please leave message on answerphone), or at the VPA Store on Sunday morning, or June Abraham (07760 144057); hello@lgvpa.org; payment by cash or bank transfer to Sort code: 090151: Account number: 48549306; Account name: Gaddesden District Village Produce. (Give your surname as the reference and the word ‘Quiz’)

Any special dietary requirements please advise when purchasing tickets; where possible send details to: hello@lgvpa.org.

Summer Show cancellation

Dear Members

It is with very heavy hearts that we have had to take the decision not to go ahead with the Summer Show this year because we simply do not have the capacity to organise everything that is needed for a successful show. The regular Committee members total five, a priority being the store management but a mixture of health issues and personal commitments has just not allowed time for a small group to organise the show due at the end of August. As you know we have called for help many times and without additional support we cannot manage all the events.

Having shared the bad news, looking further ahead is the Harvest Supper and Quiz on Saturday 1 October 2022 which will go ahead.  We have started planning this event already and it would be really useful to know how many tables we will need, last year was great fun and a complete sell out so please reserve your seat or tables (tables of 8) at the following email address: hello@lgvpa.org   We hope pricing will be similar to last year.

We look forward to hearing from you.

AGM Minutes and Plant Sale results.

AGM Minutes

Held – 27 April 2022 Location – Thomas Field Church Hall

Present
Jenny Birks, Glenda Cooper, Chris Mawhood, Josie Jeffrey, David and Anne Heard, Barbara Sheard, Sandra Walsham, Sue Godar, Carolyn Wise, Valerie and Jeremy Neve Foster, Lyn Hyde, David and Pat Seymour, Trevor Fernandez, June Abraham, Alastair and Alison Greene, Stuart and Linda Buchanan-Barrow.

The meeting welcomed the guest speakers, Julia Bolton and Amy Moffatt from Horatio’s Garden.

Continue reading “AGM Minutes and Plant Sale results.”

Horatio’s Garden talk and AGM

Our AGM will begin tonight at 7pm, (Wednesday 27th April) at the Thomas Field Hall at Little Gaddesden Church. with nibbles and a glass of wine or soft drink before the AGM reports and then our speakers for the evening: Julia Bolton, who is heavily involved in the “Horatio’s Garden” at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and is passionate about the charity, and Amy Moffett, who was appointed head gardener at Horatio’s Garden Stoke Mandeville | Horatio’s Garden (horatiosgarden.org.uk) in January 2021. “Horatio’s Gardens” are being installed in all major spinal units throughout the country and they are hugely influential in the recovery of some patients, as well as being helpful and supportive to relatives, giving them a peaceful place to be away from the ward. The original garden was created in Salisbury where Horatio Chapple was a volunteer until his sudden death aged only 17. This will be a very informative talk and we are delighted that Julia is available to come along.

AGM-2022-Consolidated-reportDownload

Horatio’s Garden talk and AGM

Dear Member

Our AGM will begin at 7pm, Wednesday 27th April at the Thomas Field Hall at Little Gaddesden Church. with nibbles and a glass of wine or soft drink before the AGM reports (see attachment), and a top up, or coffee, before our speakers for the evening: Julia Bolton, who is heavily involved in the “Horatio’s Garden” at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and is passionate about the charity, and Amy Moffett, who was appointed head gardener at Horatio’s Garden Stoke Mandeville | Horatio’s Garden (horatiosgarden.org.uk) in January 2021. “Horatio’s Gardens” are being installed in all major spinal units throughout the country and they are hugely influential in the recovery of some patients, as well as being helpful and supportive to relatives, giving them a peaceful place to be away from the ward. The original garden was created in Salisbury where Horatio Chapple was a volunteer until his sudden death aged only 17. This will be a very informative talk and we are delighted that Julia is available to come along. Please put the date in your diary so it does not slip your mind. Agenda and reports can be downloaded below.

Continue reading “Horatio’s Garden talk and AGM”