Features and Review

Delightful Pie

Arriving a little late this year, a large Gooseberry Pie was carried by the Devon Belle on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway to Churston station on July 4th where it was collected to be paraded down to the village of Galmpton to be enjoyed by the large crowds of villagers and visitors attending the Galmpton Gooseberry Pie Fair 2010.

Carrying the pie, made by Hallets the Bakers in Paignton, were officers from the Britannia, Naval College, Dartmouth, led by Lieutenant Sean Davis, American attaché to the college.

After the procession, including pie, pipers and the Galmpton Stars Alice and Harry, reached the Manor Inn in the centre of the village, Deputy Town Crier Brian Boundy welcomed everyone to the Blessing of the Pie. The Revd Ian Blyde stepped forward to offer this prayer in rhyming verse:

O God who blesses us each day

We thank you Lord as we pray.

We thank you for our home and friends,

And for your love which never ends.

We thank you for this pie so sweet

That we are all about to eat.

As we share it may we know?

That sharing love makes it grow.

So may each of us feel replete?

And your blessings be complete.

Then Lt Sean Davis the American attaché to the Naval College awarded the Galmpton Stars with their Silver salvers and declared the Gooseberry Pie Fair open on the same day as America celebrated American Independence Day!

Lt Sean said,” It's got to be a good thing to get a day out and free pie!” Deputy Town Crier tested the pie and declared,”Ladies and gentlemen the pie is good, and all proceeds will be going to local charities!”

The Fair included music from Galmpton Jazz Band and Dawntreader Ceilidh, with a display of artwork in the village hall and a display of bird of prey within the village, together with a street full of stalls and games.

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.