What
a successful Millennium weekend!
Despite
the weather, we all had a super time. It was certainly a very full
weekend. The
Millennium Committee are extremely grateful to all the farmers for
their generosity in taking the time to invite us all onto their land,
and for providing such a fascinating insight into their work. Thanks
also to the numerous individuals whose hard work made the whole weekend
such a resounding success, and to everybody who turned out to give their
support in such numbers. A thoroughly good time was had by all.
Please send in your pictures, so that we can compile a photo album of
the event. Ed will scan them in and return the pictures to you intact.
Drop them in at 'The Cedars' in Main Street in an envelope with your
name and address. Thanks. |
| Saturday - Street Party
followed by evening hog roast |
 The
events kicked off with a street party which took place in and around
the churchyard, with children’s races held in Church Lane. The jelly
relay race especially provided much entertainment for adults and
children alike. Click on the picture for more photographs. |
 Everyone
brought along a plate or two of food to share, and soon we had a
wonderful spread. |
 Here's
the new generation. It was lovely to
see new faces mingling with those who have lived in the village for
generations, and it was an enjoyable way in which to chat with
neighbours old and new. |
 An
evening a Hog Roast & Disco was held at Austhorpe Farm by kind
permission of Mr & Mrs M. Scott, and was attended by approximately
170 people. This was a real family affair with children as young as one
and two taking to the dance floor. DJ for the night was Walt Drayton,
and we danced into the early hours before either retiring to tents
pitched during the evening, or the less enthusiastic campers returning
to the village for a comfortable night’s sleep in their own beds. A
larger tent was provided by Flt/Lt Phil Shelbourn and the ATC for the
children’s Sunday School service the following morning. |
| Sunday - Tractor ride and Farm
visit |
 On
Sunday around 135 people donned fleeces for the Farm Ride, with four
tractors and trailers leaving the village with a merry band of adults
and children, all eager to experience an educational and fun day out
visiting local farms. We called first on Mr Gerald Godson to see his
beef herd at Boughton House Farm, Asgarby, We were given a short talk
before Mr Godson called the herd over to the trailers so we could take a
closer look. Many found it an amazing experience as the whole herd,
including a handsome bull, trotted over to take a better look at us. We
also learned how the humps in the field were as a result of the old
drainage system which allowed water to drain off the higher parts so
that the animals would have dry land to graze on. After this we
continued across country to Mr Michael Godson’s sheep farm at Kirkby
La Thorpe where he did a ‘One Man & His Dog’ style
demonstration, and the children had an opportunity to stroke the lambs
before enjoying a choc ice, then continuing up to Evedon and along Mill
Lane towards Haverholme. It was a treat to be riding quite high as we
could see much more from our elevated position than from a car or on
foot. On the way we stopped to look at crops including beans, sugar beet
and oil seed rape, and were told for what purpose these crops are grown.
We also passed the wood where two oak trees had been felled to provide
the timber for the new lych gate at St Andrew’s Church: this seemed
fitting, since the funds raised by the weekend’s events will
contribute to the completion of that particular millennium project. |
 After
passing close to the old Haverholme Priory, a privilege in itself, we
stopped for a picnic lunch before going to look at some large farm
machinery that the children could touch, and Mr Adrian Whitehead, farm
manager for the estate, gave a very informative talk about arable
farming and the current farming situation before handing out some lovely
tractor posters and other souvenirs of the day.
 Our final port of call
was back in Ewerby at Mr Chris Sardeson’s pig farm, where many of us
had our first sight of ‘computerised’ pigs, and the children had the
chance to stroke some piglets who were only a few days old.
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