Author: Mark Randle

Best garden competition

I remember having the end plot onto which everyone trod as it was a short cut, thereby creating a flat patch of mud. Any attempt to grow anything was quickly thwarted, not that I had a clue what to do! However, after virtually giving up hope of seriously competing, I was inspired by a friend of the family who owned a garden centre and loaned me some beautiful flowers to plant the day before the competition.

I won first prize, to the annoyance of some keen competition to which salt was added to the wound when the family friend returned to reclaim his flowers very soon afterwards,

Boxing

I was never keen on this 'sport', and since my introduction at Winbury have always avoided any further participation.

John was very keen for everyone to have some boxing experience - mine consisted of standing for what seemed a long uncomfortable time whist I was used like a punchbag whilst my hands were 'tied' by somebody on either side of me trying to tie my gloves on! They gave up as I collapsed in pain in the absence of my opponent being restrained. I suppose I learned something from this experience.

School sports

This was always a special day in the year and remarkable successful with most people having fond memories of last minute arrangements to get everything organised but they always went well.

I remember, remarkably, finding myself in the lead of an obstacle race with a few yards to complete, I was suddenly confronted with a tape pulled across the track- another obstacle? I tackled it with similar aplomb by neatly ducking underneath - to be disqualified!

Many years later I was honoured to be asked to give the prizes away and nothing seemed to have changed i was pleased to observe.

Mark Randle - 03/04/2013