Sunshine for Sir Henry at Harlaston

Sir Henry, with his wife, Lady Marjorie Plumb, was the guest of the children at St. Matthew's School at Harlaston for their Spring Daffodil Fayre, which raised nearly £200.

The many stalls included home-made cakes, groceries, goldfish, tombolla and lucky dip, and Sir Henry and Lady Plumb were welcomed to the event with a recital of the poem "Daffodil Gold". 

Other guests included Councillor Ward and his wife, Councillor Mary Ward, Mr. K. Bennett, Senior Advisory Officer with Staffs Sounty Council and the Rector of Harlaston, the Rev. H. Perrins.

Unique Occasion

Councillor Ward, the retiring chairman of Staffordshire County Council's Education Committee, was also performing his last function as Chairman of Lichfield Rural Council.

 "I am very proud to be here, and this is a double last for me", he said, referring to his Education Committee chairmanship. "It gives me an even greater pleasure to end eight years at this, my favourite school".

Welcoming Sir Henry, Councillor Ward said it was a unique occasion in such a small village to welcome the president of the NFU. 

"Sir Henry is so well known, and it is a great pleasure to be able to welcome him to such a tiny village that is the epitome of rural England"' Councillor Ward said.

Sir Henry spoke of the contrast between many areas of his work.

 "I sometimes live and work in areas which are not always real, but Harlaston is in the heart of the countryside and is very real indeed"' he said.

 "Village life is well worth living, and I am very sad to see the end of this rural authority. I feel this is wrong, and I believe that local people should be given a say in their area".

After the opening ceremony, Sir Henry and Lady Plumb toured te fayre, talking to children and parents.

Proceeds from the event are to go to school funds, and headmaster Mr. N. Ashford said the fayre had been a great success.

 "We have done very well indeed, and the proceeds have exceeded all our expectations"' he said.