Bergh Apton Fete 2015

The Bergh Apton Newsletter August - September 2015 Issue No. 140 Editorial Comment Global warming is clearly causing a change in pattern that we have all got used to over many weather patterns worldwide, plants, flowers, centuries. Let us hope though that despite the even birds and insects are confused by the uncertainty we all enjoy a bountiful harvest in all unreliability of these changes to the climate things be it corn, fruit or flowers. Milton Harris (Editor) Bergh Apton Horse and Fun Dog Show On Monday 25th May that was the Spring Bank last year the monies were down a little; I blame Holiday, we held a very enjoyable Horse and Fun the football, Norfolk was at Wembley; we took Dog Show. This was the 20th year of holding this just over £2100 gross after all expenses event which we always have been very fortunate some £1400 net monies are available for Church and pleased to hold it in the grounds of Bergh funds. My thanks go out to all those people Apton Manor by kind permission of Kip and Alison who made this fund possible that is the Bertram. We were once again fortunate with the competitors and all those who took part in weather, many people told me that they had running, stewarding and judging the event, there enjoyed a lovely day out, both competitors and are too many to name all these individuals, but I spectators alike, indeed the only complaint that feel I ought to single out Katie (Katie Brown) who comes to mind was from my niece who said she very ably managed the show as secretary, even couldn't get ice cream for her children. As you coping when under pressure. Thank you Katie and can see from the photos even the dogs enjoyed it. all you other fabulous folk. Whilst I am sure there were as many people as Milton Harris (Horse Show Chairperson) Photograph by Chris Doyle. Photograph by Chris Doyle. Left and above photographs by Andy Langley. 1 Photographs by Andy Langley. It’s Official! Bergh Apton’s New Post Office Opens August 24th! Following over two years of planning applications, duo Carol and Karen who many of you will already business plans, interviews and a public have met serving in our new shop in recent consultation (and not to mention an enormous months. building project!) we're now delighted to announce that Bergh Apton's new post office will We're delighted to be offering post office services open for the first time on Monday 24th August! 7 days a week, including bank holidays, in fact whenever Green Pastures is open the post office Being situated within a garden centre, alongside a will be open too! Just to confirm, these opening farm shop and restaurant, Bergh Apton's post hours are 9am to 5.30pm Mondays to Saturdays office will certainly be a unique one but it will and 10am to 4.30pm on Sundays. Bank holiday follow a tried and tested format that's been opening hours are 10am to 5.30pm. Where else rolling out throughout the country. Known as a can you find a bank with such extensive hours of "Post Office Local", your new branch offers much business?!? extended opening hours compared to the traditional branches whilst still offering the We look forward very much to providing you with vast majority of postage and financial services all the wonderful services a post office can everyone relies upon. The post office acheives offer (watch this space for more details) and this by cleverly integrating the counter into a thank you very much for all your much valued much larger operation (typically a busy support past, present and future. convinience store) and using multi-skilled staff who also double-up as post office operators. It James and Michelle (Green Pastures Plant Centre, Farm Shop and Restaurant) will be headed by the Green Pastures dynamic 2 Akenfield On Saturday 16th May; The Bergh Apton Local struggling whether to stay and work in the History Group (BALHG) organised a social evening village as a farm labourer, like his father and held in the village hall. The event was a ‘bring and grandfather before him. Upon the death of his share supper’ followed by the showing of the film grandfather, the cottage is available for young Akenfield. Tom. The farmer wants young Tom to stay and live and work in the cottage as his ancestors had Around 45 villagers and friends were treated to done. The film portrays how hard and sometimes an exceptional meal, all prepared by the members impoverished the life of a farm labourer was. The of BALHG. What a meal we had; there was a scenery language and visual imagery make this selection of curries, casseroles, pies, lasagnes and film an excellent example of the social history of various salads, breads and cheeses, as well as a the time. The story is told very poignantly and one range of homemade puddings all for the grand quickly becomes engrossed in the story of these cost of £5.00 [film included]! people’s lives. Once everyone had enjoyed their meal the hall was transformed into a cinema. Linda Davy chair Now over 40 years ago, In 1974 Akenfield of B.A.L.H.G introduced the film and it was was selected to open the London film projected onto a large screen for us all to enjoy. festival and was later televised by the BBC and seen by over 14 million viewers. The The Film Akenfield is set in a small Suffolk village innovative way the film was made created a and tells the story of rural life during the last lot of media attention which has enhanced century. In 1974, under the direction of Peter Hall, both the book and the film. This made it local people were recruited to tell the stories of possible for us to watch this film today. their lives. The film crew worked at weekends for a year chronicling the community and landscapes Press Reviews. through the seasons. The cast were not actors; Alexander Walker, Evening standard, 25th July 1974 they were local people. The film was made possible by a now famous twenty page script I have seen the rough cut of the film and it is written by Ronald Blyth based on his classic book without doubt not only Halls’ best work but one Akenfield. of the best films and certainly the most unusual made in and about England. What made the film ahead of its time was how it was produced. The cast after reading the script John Higgins, The Times, 9th October 1974 improvised their own dialogue as they spoke it, It is the subjectivity and the honesty of drawing on their own life experiences. Today this Akenfield....its total lack of sentimental and type of script is more commonplace. picturesque.... That allows it to capture part of The story begins in the spring of 1974 on the day England in a way that few films have done since of the funeral of “Old Tom”. The story unfolds the death of Humphrey Jennings. and is told through the eyes of Tom the grandson Margaret Hinxman, Daily Mail, November 1974. with flashbacks to earlier times. Old Tom’s story comes alive and we learn that he had never left Akenfield is a remarkable and important his village apart from fighting during World War 1. film....combines documentary with fiction in a Although he yearned to leave but never did. new manner... the effect is low key but extraordinarily moving and revealing. The film portrays a ‘bygone era’ and there are echoes of the continuation of lives and themes I totally agree. throughout this beautiful film. Young Tom is also Sue Bewick (May 24th 2015 new member BALHG.) 3 Bergh Apton Parish Council AGM 22nd May 2015 I attended my first ever Parish Council AGM in my Adrian Gunson for his exceptional work for Bergh guise as new Parish Councillor {elected unopposed Apton over many years and complemented Kevin along with fellow “rookies” Elaine Horn and Hugh Parfitt on his winning of the Neighbourhood Porter}. The meeting was held in the comfortable Community Award. The Fete report informed us of the surroundings of the recently re-furbished Village Hall. fact that just over £2000 was raised and distributed equally to the Church and Village hall and thanked Kip It was pre-ceded by a talk explaining how to use the and Alison Bertram for the use of their grounds. De-Fibrillator by Annie, a representative of the East of Alpington and Bergh Apton primary school shared England Ambulance Trust. It was perhaps this talk that with us the news of their new school hall, recently led to a very large turnout leaving me no option but to opened by the Bishop of Norwich whilst the Police take a seat in the front row but could have been report reflected upon the 7 recorded crimes in Bergh assisted by the copious amounts of red wine and Apton over the last 12 months, 6 of which were thefts. snacks provided by current Chair of the Parish Council, Derek Blake! The Village Hall report confirmed what we could see and hear, that we were in an excellently re-furbished Introduced by Derek, Annie proceeded to give a lively building with very good acoustics. Amongst other and humorous reminder to us all of basic First Aid. This things it also confirmed the range and frequency of included a demonstration on current resuscitation Hall usage demonstrating just what an asset to the techniques using the usually named “doll” - Resussce- community it is.

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