 A TV programme recorded last year and which features popular Garstang character Ben Andrews. who died earlier this year, will be broadcast on Sunday, April 5. Retired Myerscough gardening lecturer Ben Andrews, who died in January, and who was president of Garstang Gardening Club, visited tne Antiques Roadshow at Lytham Hall, Lytham, with his daughter Geraldine, when they took with them one of their items of historic interest to be valued. Ben was best known around the district for his horticultural expertise but had many other interests including history and art. Items featured on the programme will include: a chair that is believed to be from Nelson’s flagship a gruesome insight into Victorian dentistry a series of watercolours rescued from a skip and worth thousands. a diamond pendant presented by the city of Liverpool some sixties rock and roll memorabilia of the highest pedigree. The programme is to be screened on BBC One on Sunday, 8pm.Current chairman Roger Broadbelt introduced the group’s founder and original chairman, Ben Andrews, who gave a talk on how the club was formed. He explained he had launched a gardening class in the Garstang area after he had taken early retirement as a horticulture lecturer at Myerscough College, and it was from the gardening class which the club emerged. Following Mr Andrews’ talk he led a candle lighting and cake cutting ceremony, blowing out the candles and cutting the cake, which had been decorated by Hilary Hine. The main part of the celebration was a horticulture-related quiz with the questions set and asked by Ruth Wiseman. She was assisted by Peter Wiseman and Hilary Hine. About 15 teams, each of about four people, took part in the quiz in which the questions ranged from serious to light-hearted. The team with the highest score was the “Bowland Beau and Belles” team, whose members were each presented with a bar of chocolate by Mr Broadbelt. The quiz was followed by a buffet supper, with some of the eats on display being saved from the homecraft section of the club’s summer show two days earlier. After the supper Mr Broadbelt thanked all respnsible for the success of the evening - the quiz people, Mr Andrews for his talk, and Barry and Marlene Till for looking after liquid refreshments. Thanks also to Hilary Ralphs and the ladies in the kitchen who did a sterling job making tea and coffee and did acres of washing up. Report and photos Anthony Coppin. |
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