News Release - St. Peter's Flower Festival 2016

News Release - 16th June 2016

Brush up your Shakespeare amidst floral displays, dancing, folk songs, choral music, bell-ringers and an acoustic set!

Looking to spend an hour or two on the edge of the beautiful English countryside among floral displays that will take your breath away, with entertainment from a band, a folk singer, a stage school, bell-ringers, choral music and a high school students’ acoustic set, plus the chance to indulge in strawberries and cream, and salad lunches? Or to sit in the peace and quiet of a country church? If so, look no further than Aldborough Hatch.

St. Peter’s Church in Aldborough Road North – near the Dick Turpin on the edge of the green belt with farmland over the hedge – is staging its thirty-sixth consecutive Flower Festival. This year’s theme celebrates the 400^th Anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death.

Said the Revd Kate Lovesey, Priest-in-Charge: “The theme gave our team of flower arrangers a real challenge – as the title of the Festival suggests – to brush up their knowledge of the Bard’s plays and sonnets. We trust our visitors will enjoy doing so too!

“After many years taking part – some for all 35! - a number of Flower Festival stalwarts have decided to hang up their secateurs or to help in a different area of the event. We thank them for their past services and welcome new members of the team who will be soaking their oasis for the first time.

“A warm welcome awaits visitors from across the multi-cultural community – both within the Borough and from far afield. Please join us to relax and soak up the pastoral atmosphere of Aldborough Hatch – which has been described as the ‘Village in the Suburbs’.

“Our 153-year-old church, built from the stones of the first Westminster Bridge, is a much-loved part of the local community. Do join us!”

On Saturday and Sunday there is a Craft Market in the Church Halls and services and choral recitals by choirs from local churches in Church. We welcome back friends who have entertained us in the past – The Barnabas Band, 'Bells Aloud' Bellringers, The Palmerstone Dancers and Bob Allder – with newcomers - an acoustic set by students from Oaks Park High School and local singer-songwriter Naomi Hinds. Refreshments are available on Saturday and Sunday – salad lunches and strawberries and cream being especially popular. In the Craft Market a qualified gemmologist will offer free jewellery valuations – so bring your jewellery.

The Church and Craft Market are open on Saturday and Sunday 25^th/26^th June from 10am to 5pm. The Church remains open on Monday 27^th from 10am to 6pm for visitors and for children and staff from the William Torbitt School.

Six Norwegian garden centres (or seven) in four days!

My four day visit to Richard and Stine in Norway to their home on he other side of Oslo Fjord found Richard and me visiting six garden centres - seven if you count the fact that we sent to one twice! It was great fun as Richard started to plant up his garden. On one side he has decking `(made by Richard himself) with a space for plants - here he planted a tree (wish I could remember the name!) whilst on the other side the rock slopes away and here he has a rock garden. The last four shots shots two of the garden centres - amazing places and not like anything I have ever seen before. In addition  to the rock plants, Richard now has a plum tree and lots of ferns and the like. Terrific. Thanks, Richard and Stine, for a wonderful weekend - only marred by the fact that Yusef, the cat, was missing for 36 hours - but found in a neighbour's garage by Richard - who dotes on that cat as you will have gathered.