Page 13, At Sheringham paper, Norfolk UK

Sheringham Horticultural Society

Carnival Flower and Produce Show

The Sheringham Horticultural Society is affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society and this brings a number of benefits including the chance to present two prestigious medals at our shows. The first is the 'Banksian Medal' named after Sir Joseph Banks the British explorer and naturalist. Joseph Banks was born on 13th February 1743 in London and studied at Oxford University during which time he inherited a considerable fortune.

In 1768 he joined a Royal Society expedition, led by Captain James Cook, to explore the uncharted lands of the South Pacific. The expedition circumnavigated the globe and visited South America, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia and Java. He collected specimens on the voyage and on his return continued his interest in introducing plants that could be used for practical purposes and possible commercial use.

Among the expeditions he arranged was one by Captain Bligh on the HMS Bounty. Sir Joseph became president of the Royal Society in 1778 and was also the director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. The medal carries a fine profile of Sir Joseph.

The second medal is called the 'Affiliated Societies Medal' and carries the classic images of two Roman goddesses 'Flora' and 'Pomona'. In Roman mythology Flora was a goddess of flowers and the season of spring and she is shown on the medal with a floral wreath and a cornucopia of produce. 'Pomona' was the goddess of fruit trees, gardens and orchards, the pruning knife was her symbol and she is depicted sitting beneath an apple tree holding a fruit in her right hand. Interestingly Pomona is the forename of Professor Sprout, the teacher of Herbology at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series. (Herbology is the study of magic plants)

These two medals will be awarded at the Sheringham Carnival Flower and Produce Show to be held on 7th and 8th August and the show is open to anyone who wishes to exhibit. Full details will shortly be available. Bob Wilkinson

North Walsham Citizens Advice Bureau

is open from 10am-3pm on Mon, Tues & Thurs for drop in and advice line on 01692 402570. We also have appointments only sessions on Monday evenings 5.30-7.30 and Sat morning 9.30-11.30 at the Bureau. If you would like to see an adviser, at one of our outreach locations, (Aldborough, Bacton, Buxton, Cromer, Horstead, Hoveton, Mundesley, Sheringham & Stalham). this can be arranged on our appointment line on 01692 405847.

Weybourne WI

We were delighted to see a record number of members and guests at our April meeting when the ladies enjoyed an afternoon of creative needlecraft under the expert guidance of Sally Holman. We learnt a technique of quilting patchwork to give added depth and contour to our handiwork and even those of us who would not normally consider themselves to be a dab hand with a needle and thread were surprised and pleased with the resulting seascape scene. Thank you Sally, you brought out our hidden talents!

The meeting opened with the Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer making their reports and an entertaining account of the Norfolk Federation Meeting recently held at St Andrews Hall, Norwich, when the guest speakers were The Rt Hon Baroness Hayman, Gillian Shephard and The Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe MP. Interest groups will be meeting on Wednesday 15th April for Lunch, Thursday 16th April for Scrabble, Wednesday 29th April for Crafts and Tuesday 21st April for the new Walking Group.

The Theatre Group hope to make a trip to see My Fair Lady at the Cromer Pier Pavilion Theatre in May. Our next meeting on Wednesday 6th May will be our First Anniversary and we will be celebrating with a buffet party and debating this year’s Resolution concerning the SOS for Honey Bees, with the guidance of our Regional Advisor, Coral Batchelor. Our warmest wishes go to our President, who unfortunately sustained a double fracture to her leg recently and will be out of action for some time. Best wishes for a complete recovery Sylvia, and we all look forward to seeing you back amongst us.