This week, one last look at the National Fruit Show 2021.
Below: National Fruit Show Executive Chair Sarah Calcutt with Master of Ceremonies Chris Rose and Auctioneer Clive Emson
This year was the first for many a year that the English Apple Man has not attended the Show Dinner.
Show Dinner Programme
Venue: The Clive Emson Conference Centre, Kent Event Centre
18:30 Orchard World Reception
19:30 The Show Dinner sponsored by OnePay and AG Recruitment
Many thanks to: NFS Executive Chair Sarah Calcutt very kindly sent me a summary of the evening event, Norma Tompsett added some information and Martin Apps from Countrywide Photographic supplied the pictures.
Auction
Visitors to the show were able to bid on these amazing experiences. even if they were not at the dinner - by placing a £10 bids for the barrow of bottles during the first day at the show. Those wishing to place sealed bids, were able to do so by contacting Annette Bardsley who was at the show on the 20th to take bids.
The lots to be auctioned on the night ~
Hutchinsons - a very special champagne, a limited edition Bollinger Special Cuvee Champagne, the James Bond Edition to celebrate the new film release.
AG Recruitment - A gallon of Sloe Gin
Annette Bardsley - Press day at the 2022 Chelsea Flower Show
Orchard World Ltd - Fruiterers Golf day, Kingswood golf club, Surrey, followed by a delicious lunch. May 2022
Haynes - a day at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed for two
Gullands Solicitors - Iphone SE
FP Matthews - 10 fruit trees
FW Mansfield and son - case of red wine
NP Seymour - a small green tractor
Agwood - a small red tractor
Haynes - a small blue tractor
PiP Ltd Barrow of bottles - you too could take home a barrow of booze from the 2021 dinner. We have asked every table to contribute generously to this wheeled extravaganza, for just £10 it could all be yours!
"The auction raised £4810 and the barrow of bottles raised £1551 - The wonderful Clive Emson ran the auction which was both entertaining as well as exceptionally successful
Below: left; Alana Deacon winner of the "Barrow of Bottles" and right; Claire Seymour checking out the green tractor
The livery (Master Fruiterer Laurence Olins) awarded two prizes during the evening - Colin Bird (Trustee and committee member was awarded the Fruit Culture award. The craftsman award was presented to Chris Moore of Boxford farms
Jon Jones Award
New awards for 2021 included the Jon Jones Prize, endowed by the team he used to lead at Richard Hochfeld. The winner will be an individual who has worked consistently for the benefit of the industry as a whole, someone who has both excelled at their day job but also gone above and beyond to ensure fairness in all that they do.
Below: Carmella Meyer (3rd from the right next to RB) with her family when Raymond Blanc visited Boxford farms at harvest time
The dinner also saw the presentation of the inaugural Jon Jones award, created to recognise an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the fruit industry through their own high standards in business and also their dedication to securing partnership and change in the wider industry. This was awarded to Carmella Meyer also of Boxford farms for her work leading the Plantsman PO, her work with Defra and the RPA on POs, her dedicated multiple decades on the board of British apples and pears and many many other examples of dedicated and impact in this sector.
The annual Bonanza Prize has taken many formats over the years and this year's prize is in keeping with current desires to protect our environment, while capturing energy from our natural resources
This year's Bonanza prize generously donated by Harvest Green Developments was won by the BANFIELD family £10,000 solar investment - they are in the process of converting a barn at the farm for Kelly-Anne to live in so it's a lovely result
Click on Banfields Farm Shop
Master of Ceremonies, Chris Rose delivered his usual 'colourful' performance
Nigel Jenner was on hand with his band Bullshed and plenty of people found the energy to dance the remainder of the night away!
The success of the Show Dinner is a testament to the hard work of Sarah Calcutt and her team; and the enthusiasm of the fruit industry as a whole. The proceeds from the auction go towards the NFS Education Programme.
That's all for this week
Take care
The English Apple Man