The Village of Wark

The Wark Leek Show had a very worthy winner last weekend.  Roy Bell swept the board, winning the stand of leeks, winning the best three onions and on top of that, winning the ‘Best Leek in Show’.  This best leek was unusual in that it turned out to be one of those very long blanched trench leeks, something that hasn’t happened in the Wark Leek Show before, so I’m told.  All in all it was a very decent show with a good variety of vegetables, some lovely flowers and some great baking.  The school children had excelled again by producing a series of art displays, which brightened up one side of the Hall.  As you’re aware, all produce is sold on the evening and Robert Baty did his usual fantastic job in tempting people into buying a whole variety of vegetables, flowers and cakes.  Robert did have to work hard this time to get the bidding going and to keep it rolling along. Perhaps it was a result of us all being a bit more careful with our money, or perhaps there were just fewer people there, but all in all the amount raised in the sale was only just under what was raised last year.  Together with an excellent raffle and the takings on the door, the total amount banked was roughly the same as last year.  The Leek Show wouldn’t happen without the tremendous work of the whole committee, setting up, taking in the exhibits on the Saturday morning, working with the judge during the day, then running the exhibit towards the end of the afternoon, doing the sale and finally tidying it all up again.  They deserve a huge vote of thanks for making the Leek Show another success.  If you want to have a look at some pictures, check out the Wark website on www.wark.org.uk .

The refurbishment of the Sports Club is moving forward very swiftly.  The windows have been replaced and it looks like all the new cladding has also gone on.  Volunteers at the Club have been busy painting the new woodwork and it looks an absolute picture.  This refurb should help make the Sports Club building last for a good few years more.

Saturday 3 October will see another Wark Apple Fair in the Town Hall.  It will be the fourth consecutive year that‘s been held and it is turning out to be a very popular event, drawing people to the village from far and wide.  One thing that pulls in the visitors is the apple identification, by Trevor Rogers.  He will be coming up from Lincolnshire to help put a name to the apples that have been growing in your garden for years.  To have the best chance of success, you should bring three apples of each variety and at least one of them should have a stalk attached.  There will also be opportunities to taste different varieties of apples, information on fruit growing, apple juice making, sales of apples and apple products, felt apple making, games and of course teas, coffees and apple-y cakes.  The Fair runs from 10.30 until 4 and entry is £2.50 or £1.50 for under 12s.

On Monday 5 October, St. Michael’s Ladies Guild is having its annual soup and pudding night in the Community Room on Westacres.  This follows hard on the heels of the Harvest Service on Sunday the 4^th of October.  Admission to the soup and pudding night is £3, which includes homemade soup, a roll, a choice of puddings, tea of coffee and a biscuit.  Good value in anyone’s book!  Of course, everyone is welcome to join in.

Finally a last minute plug for the Town Hall Quiz Night in on Saturday 26^th September.  You might still be able to put a team together (max. 6 people) and join the six that had already signed up by last weekend.  Tickets are £5 and for that you don’t just have an evening of fun but soup and a roll too.  Ring Judith Weir on (01434) 230250 to put your team in.