Flowers, fruit and vegetables vie for prizes at horticultural show

TORQUAY and District Horticultural Society will be holding its annual show and plant sale on Saturday, June 30, at St Matthias' Church Hall, Babbacombe Road, Wellswood, between 2pm and 4.30pm.

This is an open show, with competition classes open to everyone. There are 14 produce classes covering flowers, fruit and vegetables, one floral art, three domestic, ladies and gents (non-competitive), handicrafts and three photography classes. There is also a non-competitive class for children to enter, the subject being 'An animal made from vegetables, fruit and/or other natural sources'.

All entries must be received by noon on the day of the show, with staging completed by 12.15pm.

There will also be a plant sale, cake stall, book stall, a raffle and tombola.

Refreshments will be available.

For full details, schedule and entry form, phone Pat Wingfield on 01803 294171.

Free entry.

GALMPTON and Churston Women's Institute was entertained at their June meeting by Jackie Smith, whose talk was entitled 'Pigging in the Moor'.

Jackie and her husband had purchased and run a smallholding on Bodmin Moor. They kept pigs and also, eventually, a goat called Jose.

The amusing tales and anecdotes Jackie told about this time kept the ladies amused throughout. This excellent speaker was thanked by Maggie Goldsmith.

Maggie was standing in for the president Viv Watt. Tea was served after the speaker and then the business part of the meeting continued. A number of groups are being set up within the WI to try to encourage more members to get to do things together and get to know each other.

There is to be a swimming group, a walking group, and opportunities to have lunch together or just a coffee and chat.

There are already three book groups which have been running successfully for a few years.

Members were asked to put their names down and join in whatever they were interested in doing.

The flower of the month competition was won by Deirdre Harding, second Dorothy Webley and third Eileen Simpson. The monthly competition for the best pig ornament was won by Marilyn O'Donnell, second Jill Daw and third Sue Popham.

The next meeting will be the birthday party meeting — as this year it is 50 years it will be a very special occasion.

As a treat, members are asked not to bring food as it will be provided. Sadly we cannot have any uninvited guests or visitors to this meeting — it will be strictly members-only.

A reminder was also made to bring cakes and produce along to the WI stand at the Galmpton Gooseberry Pie Fair which is on Sunday, July 1.

The birthday party meeting will be on Wednesday, July 4, at 7.15pm in the Village Hall in Galmpton.

TORBAY Advice Network in partnership with Disability Information Service and Coombe Pafford School are hosting an information evening for young disabled people from 14 to 25 and their parents and carers.

The aim is to alert parents/carers to the impact of a sudden drop in income from benefits experienced by a parent or carer when a young disabled person leaves full time education (loss of child tax credits and child benefit) and minimise financial hardship.

The most affected are single-parent families where in some cases families can be losing up to £100 per week.

Torbay Advice Network intends to improve the knowledge that carers and young people have of the benefits system and ensure that they are making the correct applications for a change in benefits at the right time and not missing out on their entitlement.

Attendees will be provided with a guide for future reference and further support will be given to help them make appointments with suitable organisations who can help them apply for the correct benefits.

The event will be held on Thursday, July 5, at Coombe Pafford School, Steps Lane, Watcombe, Torquay, between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.

All are welcome to attend.

Refreshments will be available.

For further information or to book a place please email tan-info@torbayadvicenet work.org.uk or ring 01803 207532.

REJOICE Christian Community Choir will be performing its first major concert at Oldway Mansion Ballroom on Saturday, July 14, at 7.30pm. It will be one of the last concerts to take place at Oldway before it is taken over.

The choir will perform a wonderful selection of songs from classical, contemporary and musical theatre genres.

The Paignton-based choir will be joined by two singers from London — a professional opera singer and a singer specialising in musical theatre material.

Veronica Layne, the choir director, will be performing duets with both of them and singing solo herself. Members of the choir and some of Veronica's private students will also be singing solo.

Oldway Tearooms will be providing refreshments and bar at half time and there will be a bar after the concert.

The choir started in October last year and performed their first concert at a Christmas service at Riviera Life church where singers presented a few Christmas songs. Members have been working on all new material since January and will be singing these songs at the Oldway concert.

Rejoice always welcome new members and are especially keen to attract more male singers to the choir.

Tickets to the summer concert cost £5 and are available from Veronica Layne on 07780 512745, at Oldway Tearooms or on the door.