Features and Reviews
Plenty of Pie
Right on time, the
large Gooseberry Pie arrived at Churston Station on Sun 5th
July carried by the steam train Hercules, and was paraded down
to the village of Galmpton to be enjoyed by the large crowds
of visitors and villagers attending the Galmpton Gooseberry
Pie Fair 2009. |
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The Pie was carried this year as in previous years by officers
from the Britannia, Naval College, Dartmouth, led by Lieutenant
Jim Correia, American attaché to the college. |
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In
the procession Town Crier Les Ellis was accompanied by the Galmpton
Stars Imogen and Josh who were presented later with Silver Salvers,
after the Pie made by Hallets the Bakers in Paignton, was set
down outside the Manor Inn. |
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At the Inn the Town
Crier welcomed people to Galmetona, the old name for Galmpton
recorded in the Doomsday Book.
The village actually
dates back to Saxon times with its name coming from the word
Gaolsman meaning a rent paying peasant,' which Les also invited
to come and enjoy the Fair, before asking the Revd. Ian Blyde
to bless the Pie with this poetic pray for the occasion: |
On
this day of gooseberry pie
May our
praises reach the sky
May our
praises here in Devon reach to God in highest heaven
So thank
you lord for cream and crust
With berries
sweetness set to bust
Oh thank
you Lord for this joyful time
And may
the Glory for this be thine. |
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It was finally down to Lieutenant Correia to cut the Pie and
declare the Fair open for the third year running, before he was
presented with a bottle of champagne to celebrate his wedding
anniversary with his wife Jennifer, who was also present. |
At
the end of his time at the college this was his final Pie Fair
before they return to the USA, after the unusual liaison between
Gamlpton and the American attaché originated through
the Pie Fair being celebrated in the past on the 4th of July. |
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No one knows why gooseberries are used for the pie, but the
old rhyme says that in 1873, the people of Galmpton did agree
to hold a Gooseberry Pie Fair.' The fair could well have been
running before this but in the twentieth century it was revived
a few times until the present day format was established in 1995.
Now as a street fair hosting stalls and events raising money for
charity, it has come to offer an afternoon of fun for the village
as well as the numerous visitors attending! |
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Martin Ridge as one of the organisers of the Galmpton Goosberry
Pie Fair said, It's a perfect afternoon for the Fair and we've
seen so many more visitors around this year! He was also keen
to thank all the sponsors and supporters including: AstraZeneca,
The manor Inn, The Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway, Devon
Army Cadets, Hallet's the Bakers ,Galpton Tourning Park, Mount
Olive Nursing Home and Head Teacher Stuart Ruffe and the Galmpton
Church of England Primary School. |
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