October 8th 1965 Quite a night under the TV arc lights At The Fox at Pirton
YOU CAN’T BEAT THESE COUNTRY PUMPKNS Even if they don’t turn into coaches! Pumpkins to make even Cinderella’s coach look a bit insignificant were on display at the Fox public house, Pirton, last Friday night. Country pumpkins, some in their natural state and others dressed overall for the occasion, were taking part in the first annual contest of the newly-formed Pumpkin Club. And what a magnificent sight they were.
Some of the largest specimens weighed as much as 30 and 40lb. and they gleamed majestically in the beams of the B.B.C. television cameras who were there to record the occasion for the programme “Town and Around” on Monday. Also beaming majestically was the 1965 crowned King Pumpkin 65-year-old Bert Dawson, of Cromwell Cottage, High-street, Pirton, whose winning pumpkin 46lb. 2oz. Cameras whirred away as Mr. Dawson was crowned by the elected King Pumpkin, Mr. A. Prior, and handed his sceptre with the inevitable pumpkin at the top.
Must collect it His prize will be a wheelbarrow and one cart load of muck to be delivered to the King’s door. Regent Pumpkin for this year is George Maidment of Chalkdell Nurseries, Hitchin, whose pumpkin weighed 38½ lb. His prize is also one cart load of muck – the only difference being the Regent has to go and collect it himself.
This may all sound very confusing to those readers not conversant with the rites and privileges bestowed on members of the Pirton Pumpkin Club. But those who watched the “Town and Around” programme on Monday should be fully aware of its secrets as told by broadcaster Richard Whitmore – himself Chief Roller of the Club. (This appointment entitles him to roll the pumpkin on the scales at the weighing-in).
The Club motto – “75 percent humour and 25 per cent cultivation”- was formed in April this year by a group of “locals” at The Fox. It really all started as a joke but enthusiasm spread and it was decided to have a proper club, its object being to have yearly pumpkin contests and a crowning ceremony of King Pumpkin.
Deadline for setting Every member had to buy for 30 pence six pumpkin seeds and the deadline for setting was given as May 31. The rest was up to the members to tend and nurture their pumpkin plants and encourage, in whatever way they could, the growth of large and sound vegetables. One unfortunate member told me that one of his prize plants was “sabotaged” by his wife who deliberately ran over it with the motor-mower! However, he still went on to win a major prize.
M.C. Peter Doarks announced the winners to an audience of local residents who packed the hall adjoining the pub. There were cries of “fixed” when a tied third prize and the prize for lightest pumpkin in the contest went to committee man, Joe Titmuss. Joe is Clerk of the Scales. The lightest pumpkin, incidentally, was the one which rested on the top of a pint pot. The other winner of third prize was Ken Walker, and Derek Cook won 12 months’ subscription to Gardening News and Playboy magazine for submitting the ugliest pumpkin to the contest.
Pumpkin ‘Zac’ The best decorated pumpkin was fairly original. It was called “Zac” and this is self-explanatory for those who are familiar with the latest Beatle news. The M.C. explained that Zac’s hair was real, and there was a burst of laughter when balding Wink Saunders went up to collect the prize! Pirton ladies were not forgotten and they were invited to bake a pumpkin pie. Mrs. Wendy Whitmore judged the pie section and the eventual winner proved to be Mrs. N.R. Saunders. She had put the initials of the club P.P.C. on her masterpiece.
After the official business of the evening and while members and friends were enjoying a pint and some sandwiches I chatted to the prize pumpkin growers and found that none of them had ever grown pumpkins before. King Pumpkin Bert Dawson said he harvested his winning pumpkin the morning of the contest. He had grown it in the open but having been an agricultural labourer all his life he knew a thing or two about raising crops.
Raised in greenhouse
George Maidment, who was runner-up, is a part-time nurseryman and his winning pumpkin was raised in a greenhouse at the nurseries. Out of his six seeds, five plants came up and no fewer than 10 pumpkins resulted. Ken Walker who won third prize was very optimistic about his chances next year. “It was dead easy to grow the pumpkins and I know I shall be Pumpkin King next year,” he said.
After the prizegiving the pumpkins were auctioned. The winning specimen was bought by Mr. A.S. Furr, for £5. But he gave it to Richard Whitmore to take to the B.B.C. studios for the programme feature.
