RECENT EVENTs
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY
Sunday 17th December 2023
This annual event follows the Christingle Service at St Mary’s Wath. Children were treated to the sight of Santa on his sleight pulled by three reindeer. Santa and his helpers were there with an early Christmas present for all the children and there were mince pies, mulled wine, Christmas cookies and a special Christmas Tombola to keep everyone happy. Everyone enjoyed this special event that gets everybody in the festive mood.
APPLE juicing October 7th
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY GOT TOGETHER AT 10AM ON SATURDAY MORNING TO WASH, CUT UP, SCRAT, PRESS, STRAIN AND PASTEURISE BUCKETS OF APPLES TO PRODUCE BOTTLES OF FRESH AND DELICIOUS APPLE JUICE.
THANKS TO PAUL AND MARGARET LATTIMER FOR ALL THEIR BEHIND THE SCENES WORK WHICH MADE THE EVENTSO SUCCESSFUL.
wath Village produce show WITH aFTERNOON TEA
September 9TH 2023
SAMWAIES hALl
There were some changes to Wath’s Produce Show this year. Exhibitors could take more time preparing their exhibits on the morning of the show as judging started later and once the judging was over and prizes awarded, everyone was invited to try some of the prize winning cakes, scones and pies and have a cup of ‘afternoon tea’. This proved very popular; particularly enjoyed was the ‘Best in Show’ chocolate cake entered by Julie Clarke. Nick and Margaret Poulter were awarded the Samwaies Cup for the most first places in the show and the children’s exhibits were also greatly admired. It was good to see some new exhibitors being successful including the first prizes in the baking and preserves classes for Jane Pither. It was also great to see exhibitors come back after missing a year or two and enjoying success in the vegetable classes in particular. We had a new judge this year too, he was full of praise for the show and commented on the high standards throughout the classes. The show is a fund raiser for the Samwaies Hall and the management committee is very grateful to all who supported the show so generously.
Date for next year’s show: Saturday 7th September 2024
Show Schedule Junior 2023Produce Show
Yorkshire Day Family BBQ 1ST auGUST 2023
The weather was perfect for this lovely family event to celebrate all things Yorkshire.
photos to follow
‘An Audience with’
26th November 2022
This event was a big night in the village with a full house audience entertained and educated by Nick Brading in his passion for beekeeping followed by Andy Ormrod with his entertaining narrative about the origins and operation of his company ‘Flying colours’, flag maker to the Royal Family. Everyone had a great evening nourished with funny stories, enlightening facts and delicious pies and pea supper. The bar and raffle ensured that there was excitement and fun from start to finish. This was a tremendous community event which raised much needed funds for Samwaies Hall.
Apple Juicing at Samwaies Hall October 1st and 8th
What a marvellous crop of apples there has been this year and once again there has been a great response to our community apple juicing event in Wath. In fact, we had so many apples donated that we held two apple juicing sessions on successive Saturdays at the beginning of October. First, we want to thank all those who went to the trouble to pick, and in some cases wash, and prepare apples before the juicing days. Thanks to those of all ages who gave up their time to come and do the juicing. Fortunately, the weather was good, and the big gazebos protected us from the passing showers so we had two very enjoyable days.
On the day the apples are all washed and cut up ready to go in the scratter to be mashed up. It is good to have a mix of apples both eaters and cookers to get a good tasting juice. They are put through the scratter twice to produce a good pulp before being put in the press. The juice is then drawn off and stored in 25 litre containers and left to stand overnight so the sediment can settle. The following day it is tapped off, filtered, and bottled. Then pasteurized, we can get 16 bottles at a time in the pasteurizer, once the juice in the bottles gets to 70 degrees it is held at that temperature for 20 minutes. The bottles are then lifted out, capped, and left to cool, and the next set put in and so on until all have been done. Once pasteurized the juice will keep for up to a year. The alternative is to put the juice in plastic bottles to drink immediately or freeze if you have the space.
If you have had Wath Apple juice please wash the bottles and return them, they can be sterilised and reused. This year we made nearly £150 for Hall funds.
SAMWAIES HALL OPEN MEETING AND AGM
tUESDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER AT 7:30 PM
There was a good turn out of committee members, Trust members and others for this lively meeting. New officers were voted in and heartfelt appreciation expressed for those who are stepping down after long and valued service. New members were welcomed to the committee and there was a discussion and ratification of the new charter for members conduct. Many new and varied ideas were shared for future events and fundraisers.
WATH VILLAGE PRODUCE SHOW
SATURDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 2022
This year’s show had fewer entries than previous years due to some of our regulars taking a holiday and the exceptionally hot and dry summer. Nevertheless the judges praised the quality and quantity of the entries and were particularly impressed with the children’s entries. Next Year’s show will have a slightly later than usual entry deadline and a new twist to look forward to.
DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING
jULY 5TH 2022
Wath residents were invited to Samwaies Hall on Tuesday 5th July at 7pm for training in the use of our community defibrillator. Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust Community Defibrillator Co-ordinator – Jo Watson led the familiarisation session using a manikin and a training CPAD for Wath residents to gain an understanding how to use the equipment in an emergency. CPR and emergency procedures were also explained.
Wath Community Apple Juicing Day October 2020
This year the apple crop was very good and as a result we had plenty of apples donated for juicing. In fact we had so many we had to have two pressing sessions which amounted to over 130 bottles of high quality pasteurised juice. None of it would have been possible of course without the help of our team of volunteers on both Saturdays. Fortunately, we were lucky with the weather and under the protection of the large gazebo the apples were washed, cut up, scratted (mashed up) and pressed. Once pressed, the juice was filtered and stored in 25 litre containers, left to stand for 24-48 hours and filtered again before being bottled. The bottled juice was then pasteurised by being heated to 75 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes, fourteen bottles at a time! As you can imagine the whole process represents a lot of hard work. Apple donators and helpers were rewarded with an allocation of bottled juice with the remaining bottles available to be bought by people in the village. We have some equipment of our own, but we are very grateful to Nick Brading and Nick Poulter for the use of their presses and scratters. It was a very enjoyable community event and a chance, even with face masks and social distancing for us to meet and work together on a shared enterprise.
Look out for the date next year and get involved. You don’t have to have apples to be part of the team but if you can bring apples that’s even better. You could always offer to pick apples for people who are not able to do it themselves. Hopefully next year we will be able to make it a social as well as a work event perhaps with a BBQ at lunch served with apple juice of course
Annual Produce Show
September 2020
Wath’s annual produce show did take place despite COVID-19 restrictions. Exhibitors had to leave their produce outside the hall and pick up their exhibits after the judging had take place in isolation in the hall. No get-together after the judging, not what we are used to but still a sign that Wath doesn’t give up so easily and where there is a will there is a way. (Lilian)
Photos from Julie Nicholson and Family
The Wath Village Panto 2020 – Snow White
Hedgehogs and Gardening for Wildlife
This was a very well organised event, much enjoyed by those who attended. We learned about the best way to encourage and care for hedgehogs in our gardens and met the dedicated duo Jacqui and Peter who run H.A.P.P.Y Hedgehog Rescue. The second part of the evening was a talk from Colin Slator who outlined good practice in wildlife gardening. He also told us about High Batts Nature Reserve. During the break the children had fun noisily nailing together bird nesting boxes which they were able to take home.
Margaret Lattimer