This year was a very good show for Arun Valley Poultry Fanciers, not only because for two out of the three days we enjoyed good weather but because they, with the aid of Fred Hams, put on an excellent display of poultry in Victorian times. Whilst it was impossible to find authentic pictures of Victorian poultry houses with the exception of small commercial units, I suspect that in those days people made their own and farmyard chicken were left to their own devices with the farmer's wife collecting and selling eggs as pin money.
Mary Cogram, Karyn Ciotti dressed as maids while John Bishop a country labourer and Rod Padwick Tolly the Squire. On the Saturday Sam Cogram joined in but looked more like Charlie Chaplin than whoever he was supposed to be. Fred Ham's dummy was very authentic and some wondered whether he was part of the workforce (stewards).
They swapped around a bit to be able to take a few breaks and look around the rest of the show, at times fitting neatly back into their stewardship roles. Because of the heat on Saturday they were all to be found in their role models which was in a pleasant area to relax.
The backcloths to the set were excellently painted taking the viewer back in time. These were painted by the very gifted artist, Sally Cadogan. She spent two days within the Victorian arena making excellent sketches of various poultry and the Victorian scenes. Some of these were sold for as little as £7.50 and unfortunately I just missed her at the end of the last day, to purchase one myself. For those who are really interested in such prints etc, her email address is sallycadogan (at) btinternet (dot) com She is still in the process of setting up her own web site which I will await with interest.
Click the images to enlarge them into a new window
This article continues in July 2010 issues of Feathered World.
