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Rachel and Sue meet Dame Judi Dench
On Saturday 16 June two lucky committee members met actress Dame Judi Dench at local NGS Event
Dame Judi Dench was the guest of honour at a garden party hosted by Charlecote Park, in partnership with the National Garden Scheme (NGS). The party celebrated 85 years since the founding of the NGS in 1927. Charlecote Park was one of 600 private gardens to open for the charity in its first year.
The presentations made by Dame Judi Dench honoured five local gardeners that have opened their gardens for the NGS for the last 10 or 20 years. A plaque was also be presented to the National Trust and the Lucy family to commemorate 85 years’ association with the NGS at Charlecote Park.
The NGS is a charity founded in 1927 to raise money for district nurses. Charlecote Park was one of 600 gardens to open to the public that year, with all entry fees going to the NGS. Today, over 3,700 gardens – from National Trust properties, to private local gardens – open for NGS each year and since 1927, £35m has been raised for a number of charities including Macmillan Cancer Support.
Julia Sewell, NGS county organiser for Warwickshire, says: “We’re delighted that Dame Judi agreed to present these awards. Dame Judi has a long association with Charlecote having lived in the village at one time and her father-in-law worked at Charlecote Park itself. We are very excited that she came to see all that is new at Charlecote Park as well as to help the NGS celebrate its 85th birthday”.
Despite the rain, throughout the day there was live music, sheep shearing demonstrations, walks and talks, children’s games, barbeque food and a classic car display. There was also stalls featuring a number of local groups, including a Macmillan stand providing visitors with information on Macmillan’s services and support