It’s been several years since the last art show. Sadly we have lost some artists since then; however, we may have gained some amongst the newer residents of the village.
If you, or anyone you know in the village, are keen to take part in another art show please contact Tim Flinn at Beech Cottage or use the contact form, below.
About ten artists are needed to make the show affordable and five are already interested. Spread the word!
In place of Garvald Village Show this year we invite you to ‘show’ your produce at your doorstep! Decorate your door however you wish; bunting, pots of plants, vase of flowers, basket of veg, jam jars – get creative! Have doors ready by 2pm – there will also be a kids trail around the village. If you live outwith the actual village you could share or borrow a doorstep – ask a committee member or get in touch via the contact form. Also please do make use of the (private) facebook group ‘Garvald Growers, Makers and Bakers’ to share any pics of your lockdown gardening achievements.
Let’s keep the spirit of the Show – but in the street – to allow for appropriate distancing!
This poster has appeared in our red telephone box beside the park. If you would like us to keep a payphone in Garvald (since there is no reliable mobile phone signal) and to continue to have the telephone box maintained by BT, please contact Shamin Akhtar
sakhtar@eastlothian.gov.uk
Time is short – please make contact ASAP
Douglas Findlay, whose window cleaning services many Garvald households use, has asked for the following information to be shared with the village:
Many of you in Garvald will know me as Douglas the ‘window cleaner from Tranent’. Unfortunately I am having to share information of a material change in my circumstances. You will realise once you have read this just how difficult this is for me.
Regrettably I have to inform my customers that I shall not be returning to Garvald to keep cleaning your windows. I have not been in the best of health for while, almost a year to be honest. Since September of last year when I began to feel unwell, I have undergone a range of tests and medical examinations which, until recently, had all been clear. However in April the symptoms returned and I have since undergone detailed scans, both in Haddington and Edinburgh, which have revealed Cancer of the Oesophagus which has spread into my lungs, lymph nodes and my liver. I am awaiting further results which will reveal where exactly I stand.
I’m absolutely sure you will all understand that my working life is over, that if I get through this that I would not want to return to my work. I do hope that I would be able to pay you all a social visit to say a thank you for your custom over the years; I’ve worked out that it’s been 18 years that I’ve been doing Garvald and 20 years at Cousland in Midlothian. It’s not the most glamorous of jobs but I do know that I was appreciated and I will miss the friendly banter, the dogs, and the wee ones.
I would like to mention Gillian and Rufus Bellamy and Mr and Mrs Barnes. Gillian, I never thought that I would need Wellington boots to clean windows, Mrs Barnes I will miss your cafetiere of coffee and shortbread on my visits.
I’m sure you can all realise that this has come as a bombshell to me and my family which is why I’ve taken so long to get in touch with the village.
Kind regards, Douglas.
A few months short of her 100th birthday, Bette passed away in Muirfield
Care Home, Gullane which had been her home for the past three years.
A visitor to Garvald for weekends and holidays from her home in Leith
for almost 90 years, she was a loyal supporter of village events, helping
in the kitchen and baking for the teas. She also attended Garvald
Church, and her 80th birthday saw her extended family join her in the
Stables for a surprise celebration.
She always took a keen interest in the latest village news, and had a
remarkable memory for stories of the people she had met and events
which had happened during her remarkable life.
Our condolences go to her son, Mark, at Ballymoss.
Alasdair has managed to get round most of Garvald and take photos of households; he has had a few ‘no answers’ however. Therefore, if you want to be involved and he missed you – or you are in one of the outlying areas he has not reached yet – please use the contact form below to request a date/time for him to visit you. Afternoons between 2 and 3.30pm is best – or some early evenings. We are trying to complete this by WEDNESDAY 10TH JUNE so that the photos can get printed and ready for display!
As well as a physical display in the village hall/church, we thought it might be nice to include the final photos in the Gallery section of the Garvald.org website. Please get in touch if you would prefer your photo not to be included on the website version.
Sadly we have decided to cancel this year’s Village Show. In line with other shows in East Lothian we have taken this decision with the safety of members and the public at the forethought of our minds. It may be possible to do something to celebrate the efforts of our ‘lockdown gardening’ – we will consider this nearer the time. We will carry the 2020 schedule over to 2021.
Seedlings – next Saturday (30th) we were due to have a seedling exchange at the hall. Instead we suggest that if you have any spare seeds/seedlings/plants to leave them out at your door/gate.
Strawberry plants – we do have strawberry plants for children to grow on for the Show. If you would still like a strawberry plant please let Jo know via the contact form or the ‘Garvald Growers, Makers, Bakers’ Facebook Group.
Happy gardening, making and baking!
More outlying areas of Garvald: if you wish your photo to be taken for this project, please use the contact form, below, to request and organise a time for Alasdair to visit with his camera (on his bike!):