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I read in the newspaper today that supplies of tarmac
have been ordered from France which can be guaranteed not to melt in the
heatwaves that we are apparently to suffer as a result of global warming. This produced
a wry smile as I looked around the garden assessing the damage done on that
bitter night before Christmas when the temperature went down to seventeen
degrees below. Certainly some of the shrubs look distinctly unhappy, their
leaves shrivelled and their branches drooping, although the yucca which keeled
over under the weight of snow has been propped up and hopefully will survive.
All the same, undeterred, if a little cautiously, the daffodils are showing
through, the snowdrops are swaying about in the strong breeze, and there is the
usual golden carpet of aconites at the top of the Rectory drive.
When we first came to Walton,
fifty years ago at the end of March, the drive was unfenced and you had to open
the gates at the top and bottom, always hoping that you didn't let the cattle
out. There was a gate too at the bridge by the Dene House - it was the Agent's
House then, lived in by Major Stuart and all his cats, and the children would
take it in turns to open it and then run ahead of the car to open and shut the
one at the top. I don't think so many drivers would use the road as a short cut
if they still had to do that now! People who lived in the village then could
remember West's bakery van coming out -
the horse knew exactly where to stop and would move on to the next house as the
driver delivered the bread, and Vic Wheeler told me he sometimes cadged a lift
in the van up the Rectory drive which was a great treat for a child in those days.
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All very different now, of
course. West's horses were put out to grass long ago. The bus which came
through on a Friday, picking up Mrs Field and Miss Reynolds for their weekly
trip to Stratford, have given way to the coaches that bring visitors along the
Jubilee Drive at week-ends for short breaks at Walton Hall. But there is much
that remains the same and slowly the winter gardens will give way to spring.
The blossom of almond and double cherry will appear, and the greenness will
return, if not quite with the miraculous speed which television was able to
bring as all the seasons in the energetic and enthusiastic Carol Klein's
cottage garden quickly came to life before our eyes.
EH
Street Fayre Cancelled
I have been asked by
the Street Fayre Committee to let the village know that we will not be
able to organise the Street Fayre planned to be held in Church Street on
Saturday 4th June 2011. The Committee very much regret the decision, but hope
that all the local businesses, organisations and residents who have given us
such marvellous support in past years will accept our apologies and feel
able to support a Jubilee event next year in 2012. In the meantime may we
wish the Royal British Legion every success with the Great Poppy Party Weekend
planned nationally on the weekend of 10 – 12th June to celebrate the
Royal British Legion's 90th Birthday.
John E. Grantham, Chairman, Wellesbourne Street Fayre Committee.
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