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 Memories - Three Villages Show 1931


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Obituary of John Simonds, 1929

Obituary of John Hayes Simonds, 1946

Newlands Auction Sale 1947

Garth Hunt

Garth Point-to-Point Races 1926

List of Rectors at St. Bartholomew's, Arborfield

Cottage Garden Show 1930

Postcard of Newlands Mansion from H A Giles Collection, Reading Local Studies Library

 

 The 'Reading Standard' of August 15th 1931 published a detailed article on the 'Three Villages Show' at Arborfield, which will be of particular interest to family historians.

The Garth Hunt, with Newlands in the backgroundThe show was held in the grounds of Newlands, home of John Hayes Simonds, who inherited the mansion (seen left) and estate on the death of his 83-year-old father John Simonds in 1929.

John Hayes Simonds took his second name from his mother, a daughter of the Rector of Arborfield, Rev. Sir John Warren Hayes, Baronet.

John Hayes Simonds, a director of Barclays Bank, hThe Garth Hunt at Barkham Square, home of the Sturges familyad married Miss A. R. Sturges of Barkham Square, in 1911. Her father was the leader of Wokingham Rural District Council and a John Hayes Simonds (right) at the Point-to-Point racesstaunch supporter of the Garth Hunt, seen on the right setting off from Barkham Square.

John Hayes Simonds, a major in the Army during the Great War, was well known as a horseman, and had been involved in the Point-to-Point races at the Remount Depot for many years. He is seen here in riding gear at one of those meetings.

The Simonds family had long taken a very prominent part in village life, and donated the land for the Village Hall, openedNewlands Mansion, as seen in the 1947 Auction Sale document in 1931. Many of the cottages around Arborfield Cross were owned by the Newlands Estate.

The triangular woods used to be the gardens of NewlandsNewlands Mansion, off the road to Sindlesham, was razed to the ground following a fire in the early 1970's, and its carefully-manicured grounds have been completely overgrown, as a recent aerial photograph (courtesy of Google Earth) shows. The lodge is at the top left of this picture, and the old Poplar tree, which is visible from the road, is in the middle of the field to the left. The triangle of now-mature trees marks the former site of the mansion and gardens. 

With the Simonds' family's strong involvement in village life, it is not surprising that they combined their various interests by holding a village show and gymkhana in the grounds of their mansion, as described below. 

The competition results have been formatted to make them easier to read, but they are otherwise as listed in the newspaper article. 

THREE VILLAGES SHOW AT ARBORFIELD

Notable Improvement in Entries and Attendance

MOUNTED GYMKHANA AS A NEW FEATURE

After undergoing reorganisation and an alteration of site, the annual cottagers' flower show for the villages of Newland, Arborfield and Barkham, which of recent years has not been in too flourishing a condition, received a new lease of life, and scored a great success when it was held at Newlands, Arborfield, on Saturday.

The hosts and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. John Hayes Simonds, helped considerably in making the function the all-round success that it was, and were primarily responsible for organising the mounted gymkhana which so greatly added to the attractiveness of the programme of amusements.

Photos of the Gymkhana - click for more detail

There was a record gate, and hundreds of visitors enjoyed watching various sports events and touring the show tents, situated on an ideal site, with the beautiful surroundings of parkland and woods. The traditional English summer weather unfortunately asserted itself after tea, but the rain did not interfere with the final events of the sports programme.

AROUND THE SHOW TENTS

The show tents provided much to admire. The entries had increased generally, and the standard was very good. The judges of horticulture, Messrs. T. Butcher and W. Chislett, were fully satisfied with the produce, and judges in other sections were equally favourable in their comments. They were: -
Needlework, Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Hart;
Children's classes, the Rev. H. R. P. Tringham and Mrs. Simonds;
Cakes and confectionery, Mr. J. Hibberd;
Drawing, Mrs. John Barker and Mrs. Stiles.

There was a large fur and feather section, which attracted over 130 entries of an excellent standard. The judges, whose opinion was "it was a wonderful show for the district", were: -
Poultry, Messrs. N. C. Lawrence and F. Wilson;
Rabbits, Mr. G. M. Newland;
Pigeons and bantams, Mr. Anthony Houghton. The bantams were the outstanding class.

Among the exhibits not for competition was a large table cloth worked in cross-stitch, loaned by Mrs. Streak, who is 82 years of age. Mr. T. H. Windsor staged an exhibition of honey and honey products, and local schoolchildren had an extensive show of drawings and handwork.

THE OFFICIALS

The president of the society, Mr. E. M. Sturges, and many of the vice-presidents were among the visitors. The show was run by a hardworking committee, of which Mr. A. W. Westmoreland was the energetic hon. secretary, and Mr. Guy Bentley and Miss E. L. Smith the assiduous hon. treasurers. Mr. N. C. Lawrence was hon. secretary for the fur and feather section. Mrs. Simonds received plenty of willing assistance in organising the horse events, the judges for which were: - Capt. Forrester-Walker, Capt. Dunn, and Mr. Spanton, M. F. H. (classes 1-5), and Lady Coombe and the Bishop of Kingston for the scarecrow dressing competition.

There were several sideshows and competitions, and Mrs. H. S. Westmoreland was responsible for making the costumes and providing the fairings for the "Walking Pocket Ladies", who were Mrs. A. W. G. Westmoreland, Miss Romola Westmoreland and Mrs. Dierdre Ryall. There were also bowling contests for prizes and a pig.

Members of Woodley branch of the British Legion were the victors in the tug-of-war contest, defeating Newlands in the preliminary round and Wokingham in the final.

THE RESULTS

Division A – Open to Cottagers.

Gardens:

Best-kept Garden:

1

T. H. Windsor

2

E. Cordery

3

A. Edwards

4

W. Scott

5

W. Willoughby

6

E. Neville and W. White

Collection of vegetables:

1

T. H. Windsor

2

W. Scott

3

E. Cordery

4

C. H. Steele

Vegetables:

Broad beans:

1

F. M. Barker

2

A. Edwards

3

E. Cordery

Dwarf French beans:

1

T. H. Windsor

2

C. H. Steele

3

W. Wheeler

Runner beans:

1

C. H. Steele

2

T. H. Windsor

3

W. Streak

Beet, turnip:

1

R. Middleton

2

W. Scott

3

B. Kent

Cauliflowers:

1

E. Cordery

2

C. H. Steele

3

W. Willoughby

Cabbage:

1

B. Kent

2

J. Jewell

3

W. Willoughby

Carrots:

1

T. W. Windsor

2

W. Scott

3

E. Neville

Lettuce, cos:

1

C. H. Steele

2

W. White

3

A. Edwards

Do., cabbage:

1

A. Edwards

2

R. Middleton

3

J. Jewell

Onions:

1

J. Day

2

W. Streak

3

W. White

Peas:

1

W. J. Verrall

2

W. Scott

3

C. H. Steele

Potatoes, white kidney:

1

Townsend

2

W. Streak

3

W. Willoughby

Do., white round:

1

W. Willoughby

2

A. Edwards

3

E. Neville

Do., coloured:

1

T. H. Windsor

2

W. Streak

3

F. Armstrong

Radishes:

1

W. White

2

W. Willoughby

Rhubarb:

1

C. H. Steele

2

W. Scott

Shallots:

1

W. Willoughby

2

J. Jewell

3

W. Scott

Turnips:

1

C. H. Steele

2

E. Neville

3

E. Cordery

Vegetable marrow:

1

E. Cordery

2

R. Middleton

3

E. Neville

Collection of herbs:

1

C. H. Steele

2

W. Scott

Flowers:

Garden flowers:

1

C. H. Steele

2

W. Willoughby

3

E. Cordery

Roses:

1

C. H. Steele

2

W. Willoughby

Pot plants:

1

C. H. Steele

2

E. Cordery

Arranged bouquet garden flowers:

1

C. H. Steele

2

W. White

3

W. Willoughby

4

J. Jewell

Sweet peas:

1

C. H. Steele

2

W. Streak

3

E. Cordery

Fruit:

Apples:

1

C. H. Steele

2

E. Cordery

3

W. Willoughby

Plums:

1

C. H. Steele

2

E. Cordery

3

R. Middleton

Gooseberries, white:

1

W. Scott

2

E. Verrall

3

W. Streak

Do., red:

1

A. Edwards

2

W. White

3

H. Neat

Fruit dishes:

1

C. H. Steele

2

A. Edwards

3

W. Scott

Division B - Cottagers. Winners of more than Two Prizes in Division A Last Year Barred

Collection of vegetables:

1

W. Streak

2

A. R. Hatcher

Broad beans:

1

Mrs. A J Bentley

2

W. Townsend

3

W. Wheeler

Runner beans:

2

W. Wheeler

Beet:

1

A. R. Hatcher

2

F. Armstrong

3

W. Wheeler

Cabbage:

1

W. Wheeler

2

F. Armstrong

3

W. J. Verrall

Lettuce, cos:

2

J. Day

Onions:

1

W. Streak

2

J. Day

3

F. Armstrong

Peas:

1

W. J. Verrall

2

A. R. Hatcher

Potatoes, kidney:

1

W. Townsend

2

F. Armstrong

3

A. R. Hatcher

Ditto, round:

1

W. Townsend

2

F. Armstrong

3

W. Wheeler

Shallots:

1

J. Day

2

W. Streak

3

F. Armstrong

Marrows:

1

W. J. Verrall

Garden flowers:

1

W. Streak

2

A. Kinch

3

Mrs. Anderson

Dish of fruit:

1

Mrs. E. Verrall

Division C - Home Produce

Potatoes, peeled & boiled:

1

Mrs. R. Middleton

2

Mrs. F M Barker

3

Mrs. Jewell

Milk pudding:

1

Mrs. N. White

2

Mrs. R Middleton

3

Mrs. A J Bentley

Home-made jams:

1

Miss K. Edwards

2

Mrs. R Middleton

3

Mrs. Scott

4

Mrs. A J Bentley

Honey in comb:

1

T. W. Windsor

Extracted or run honey:

1

T. W. Windsor

Fruit cake:

1

Mrs. Townsend

2

Mrs. A J Bentley

3

Mrs. Cordery

Jam tarts:

1

Miss K. Edwards

2

Mrs. B. Kent

3

Miss N. White

Brown loaf:

1

Mrs. B. Kent

2

Mrs. R Middleton

3

Mrs. Lyford

Breakfast scones:

1

Mrs. Lyford

2

Mrs. Cordery

3

Mrs. B. Kent

Eggs, brown:

1

Mrs. Cordery

2

Mrs. R Middleton

3

Mrs. Lyford

Ditto, white:

1

W. Willoughby

2

Mrs. Cordery

3

Miss K. Edwards

Home-made cake:

1

Mrs. B. Kent

2

Mrs. Lyford

3

Mrs. Cordery

Division D - Needlework

Women's cotton nightdress:

1

Mrs. A. J. Bentley

Lady's summer dress:

1

Mrs. B. Kent

2

Mrs. Scott

Man's cotton shirt:

1

Mrs. R. Middleton

Hand-knitted socks:

1

Mrs. Scott

2

Mrs. B. Kent

Cotton overall (school children only):

1

Kathleen White

2

Eva Middleton

3

Phyllis Windsor

Largest collection of queen wasps:

1

E. Middleton

Girl's cotton nightdress (school girls only):

1

Dorothy Coombes

2

Peggy Salisbury

3

Dorothy Townsend

4

Nellie Bennett

Division E - School Children

Bouquet wild flowers and grasses:

1

B. M. Gadd

2

Cordery

3

O. Morgan

4

R. Cordery

Drawing in pen and ink:

1

H. Woolford

2

John Povey

3

Kenneth Garrett

4

Arthur Cade

Water colour:

1

Arthur Cade

2

John Povey

3

Walter Davis

4

Willie Brant

Model in wood or cardboard:

1

H. Woolford

2

H. Woolford

3

J. Povey

Model in cane and seagrass:

1

J. Povey and J. Salisbury

2

A. Cade

3

J. Povey and J. Salisbury

Sweet peas in pot:

1

Leslie Day

2

E. Middleton

Division F - Members

Gent's four distinct kinds of vegetables or flowers or both:

1

C. H. Steele

2

W. Scott

3

W. Willoughby

Ladies' collection cut flowers, arranged:

1

Mrs. Willoughby

2

Mrs. Hart

3

Mrs. Scott

"Smallholder" Prizes

"Smallholder" Special Prizes

1

C. H. Steele

2

E. Cordery

3

W. Scott

4

W. Willoughby (certificate)

FUR AND FEATHER - Under the management of the Wokingham Fur and Feather Society

Open Classes:

Poultry:

Rhode Island Red (female):

1

T. P. Clifford

2

M. D. Heelas

3

M. D. Heelas

Sussex (female):

1

N. C. Lawrence

2

N. C. Lawrence

Wyandotte (female):

1

M. D. Heelas

2

M. D. Heelas

Leghorn (female):

1

E. Allen

Any other variety (female):

1

M. D. Heelas

2

E. Allen

3

F. Giles

Any other variety (male):

1

E. Allen

2

N. C. Lawrence

3

N. C. Lawrence

Bantams:

Black Rose Comb (female):

1

N. C. Lawrence

2

F. Wilson

Do., (male):

1

F. Wilson

2

W. Berry

3

F. Wilson

Game (female):

1

E. Allen

2

E. Allen

Do., (male):

1

N. C. Lawrence

2

F. Wilson

3

E. Allen

Any other variety (female):

1

E. Allen

2

N. C. Lawrence

3

W. Hatwell

Do., (male):

1

E. Allen

2

N. C. Lawrence

3

E. Allen

Rabbits:

Beveren:

1

C. Bowers

2

C. Bowers

3

C. Bowers

Havana:

1

G. Brothers

2

N. C. Lawrence

Chinchilla:

1

W. Willoughby

2

M. Neville

Any variety Pairs (under 13 weeks):

1

C. Bowers

Any other variety:

1

P. Iles

2

F. Wilson

3

G. Brothers

Pigeons:

Homer (adult cock):

1

E. H. Butler

2

E. H. Butler

3

Robins and Beagley

Do. (hen):

1

E. H. Butler

2

E. H. Butler

3

Robins and Beagley

Homer (1931 cock):

1

E. H. Butler

2

Robins and Beagley

3

Robins and Beagley

Do. (hen):

1

E. H. Butler

2

Robins and Beagley

3

Robins and Beagley

Any variety Fancy (cock):

1

F. Wilson

2

N. C. Lawrence

Do. (hen):

1

F. Wilson

2

N. C. Lawrence

Cage Birds - Any variety:

1

A. Willoughby

2

A. Willoughby

3

Mary Simonds

Cottagers' Section:

Poultry - Any variety pure-bred hen or pullet:

1

W. Willoughby

2

E. E. Cordery

3

E. Verrall

Any variety cross-bred cock or cockerel:

1

W. Lyford

Bantams - Any variety hen or pullet, cock or cockerel:

1

Mrs. Robins

2

W. Willoughby

3

W. Hatwell

Rabbits - Any variety Fur:

1

F. Wilson

2

G. Brothers

Any variety Fancy:

1

G. Brothers

Pigeons - Homer:

1

Robins and Beagley

2

S. Brothers

3

S. Brothers

Fancy

1

F. Wilson

2

F. Wilson

3

W. J. Verrall

Children's Classes

Any variety Feathered Pet:

1

Ivy Kinch

2

F. Wilson

3

F. Wilson

Any variety Fur Pet:

1

H. Spencer

2

R. Cordery

3

F. Wilson

Specials:

Best Bantam in Show:

N. C. Lawrence

Best Pigeon:

F. Wilson

Best Pet:

H. Spencer


SPORTS RESULTS

Mounted Gymkhana Events

Best child's pony, not exceeding 14.2 hands:

1

P. Benson

2

Miss Mary Simonds

3

L. Smith

Ditto, not exceeding 13.1 hands:

1

Miss Valerie Gardner

2

Miss V. Green

3

J. Currie

Jumping:

1

P. Benson

2

S. Beeton

3

H. Smith

4

Miss N. Croker

Musical chairs:

1

R. Cheriton

2

Miss M. Simonds

3

Master H. Smith

Button race:

1

Mr. Marks

Scarecrow dressing competition:

1

Miss N. Stiles

2

Mrs. Hart

3

Miss E. Simonds


With acknowledgements to Surrey and Berkshire Newspapers Ltd.

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