A mixed bag of news from East Markham this month:
East Markham Church Plundered
The village experienced the removal of large amounts of lead from the East Markham parish church roof, including the lead roofing being stripped from the chancel and north aisle, it is believed on the night of 5th/6th October. Are you aware of any strange vans, pick-ups or other unusual events in the area of the church, or around the village in general? If so, please leave a message for Tom who is in contact with police and church authorities on 07866 705911. You may recall it rained much of Saturday 6th October and leakage inevitably caused additional damage inside the parish church of St John the Baptist, a church originally recorded in the Domesday Book, the present building dating from the 15th century and noted by Sir John Betjeman as “the Cathedral of the Trent Valley”.
Apple Day
The very next day, Sunday 7th October, was the day of East Markham Apple Day, annually the most active day in the village supported by residents and visited by hundreds of others. After the previous day’s outrage and desecration of the church it was timely that the village had an opportunity to come together in its annual celebration of all the positive features, traditions, history and heritage that is East Markham. The rain petered out and Sunday dawned sunny with a light breeze and inevitably much to discuss! This year was to be a special celebration as it was the 20th anniversary of the Hempsall Heritage Orchard (boasting more than 300 different varieties of apples!) which always forms the centrepiece of the occasion. Apple Day also features dozens of gardening and related craft stalls, a new Apple Recipe Book with free tasting tables of all the recipes, a Cider Bar highlighting Scrumpy Wasp Cider produced in the village, pick-your own fruit, morris dancing by Rattlejag Morris, the village steel band SteelGen and this year a visit by celebrity gardeners Jon Stirland and Martin Fish (who helped to launch the Heritage Orchard 20 years ago) who planted a tree in the orchard to mark the occasion.
Christmas Fair
One major East Markham village event planned for November, very appropriately in the church! The Christmas Fair will be held on Saturday 24th November from 11.00am to 3.00pm.