Rainow
Scarecrow-mania
The desirable dormitory
village of Rainow
...
... last week went back
to its farming roots ...
... for a competition run
in conjunction with the annual village fete.
....
The agricultural theme was
strong, especially in the farms ...
...
... but relaxing after a
day's hard work had seemingly taken its toll of some entries.
....
It was easy to overlook
some figures in lifelike poses, even though a certain stiffness
betrayed them.
....
Others more obviously threatened
to arrest your attention as you drove by.
'Did you see that, back
there?!!'
....
Out of the 115 entries at
least four were of mermaids, not counting this bather.
...
The judges awarded First
Prize to this lifelike representation of this summer's football
supporter, and Second Prize (I believe) to another of the five
football related entries.
...
Or six if 'The Mexican Wave'
were to be admitted to that category but it's more a play on words,
as is the 'SCAREdCROW'.
....
Some figures could be seen
clambering over buildings, like 'The Phantom', but none with as
determined a technical approach as the climber.
....
One clamberer had nefarious
intent, and in a HomeWatch Area too! And another of the brotherhood
could be seen emerging from the graveyard.
....
Buzz Lightyear was the most
recognisable individual personality, as opposed to 'a type' and
there was no mistaking Bill & Ben who were, I believe, also
prize winners.
No mistaking, either, this
group complete with wicked witch/queen with 'poisoned' applein
her hand.
....
A bridal pair posed for
photographers at the entrance to the Parish Church, but the bride
at the Wesleyan Chapel already had her photographer, complete
with saucepan flash, in attendance.
While not an official prizewinner
this tableau, of father shooting the stork, received the popular
vote in a poll on the day of the fete.
....
If not crows. then maybe
timid pedestrians could be scared by these 'foul and midnight
hags' and could flee for more sympathetic succour to the almost
benign Merlin figure.
....
Past succour would seem
to be the black cloaked eponymous figure hanging on a rope from
the inn sign at The Highwayman, but the not quite eponymous figure
of the 'Green Man' outside the Robin Hood pub seems to have been
having a more jolly time with pint of 'beer' in hand.
....
The only serious intent
has been to produce the best figure and to celebrate the local
community. Outside of that there is the strongest vein of humour
running through the whole range of figures, more overtly in some
as these two figures show. The plaque for the RH figure states
that The Scarecrow of the North by Antony Gormless is a failed
entry for the Turnip Prize. Click
to see the original prompt.
....
Pure artistic inspiration
and invention were not entirely lacking with these two entries
showing both in exemplary fashion. I particularly like the tin-man
with a skin of aluminum drinks cans wound around and over a body
of chicken-wire-mesh.
How long will it be, I wonder,
before visitors can drive through Rainow ...
....
... without feeling they
are being covertly observed? But it is a designated HomeWatch
Area, after all!
....
With plenty to conserve
and proudly protect.
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