On the weekend of the Silverstone Formula One Grand Prix there was also the other well known Ringwood British Pedal Car Grand Prix.
This takes place around the centre of Ringwood, which of course is closed to traffic for the duration of the event, 2 hours. The event was run alternately in Pont Audemer (Ringwood’s twin town) and Ringwood. Over the years with Ringwood winning away from home and the eloping of the young lady, responsible for the event organisation, with another councillor Ringwood now shares the event with New Milton instead of PA.
The afternoon was superb, weather wise. There were 54 entries. Some of the cars were extremely well built with high quality graphics and others left rather too many bits around the course. The noisiest car was the police entry with chequered livery and fully functional ‘blues and twos’. There were a few imaginative names for the cars ‘Squeals on Wheels’ a ladies team, ‘Team Prawn’ Ringwood fisheries, Patterson Bangers’ the butchers.
In the absence of telemetry lap counting there was some dispute over the number of laps completed. The declared winner was number 13 Apollo Racing 1. Well done to them!
Most local people walked to the Grand Prix. Others came by more unconventional methods.
On the same weekend Sue’s sister Pam came to stay for a night. She had come straight from her final assembly at school – retirement starts here.
Pam with the bouquet presented by the school.
Unknown to most people we have a budding Alan Titmarsh living next door. Peter has grown 4 giant sunflowers from seed and this is the largest one to date. At a guess it is 10 feet tall (3 metres).
On the weekend of 17/18th July we went to Mottisfont Abbey to see the Beatrice Potter exhibition. This exhibition of 25 original watercolours and drawings, featuring some of her best-loved characters. This rare collection, which forms part of Beatrix’s legacy to the National Trust, can only be shown every ten years, due to the fragility of the illustrations and potential damage from light exposure.
Jemima Puddleduck
Mottisfont Abbey Grounds
Sue at the walled garden – don’t know who the old bloke is.
We have not visited at this time of year before, so had not seen many of the plants in flower.
This I think is a pom-pom. Maybe one of you horti-wotsits out there can help – Sybil!
There were plenty of bees around going about their business.
Rear garden of the Abbey.
Sue with Jemima.
Sybil said it's not a pom-pom it's an Echinops Veitch's Blue
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