An enthusiastic member with a large car was to
meet me on the Friday before the show to help trans-
port 1 the display material from Chelmsford to
Dagenham, and it was arranged that the other helpers
should meet us in the tent in the early evening to
help erect the stands. Friday came, and by 9.00pm
no car had arrived. A student friend at the college,
realising my predicament of two car loads and only
one car, offered to help. And so fox and badger sett
went into his car while I took the display boards,
fossils and photographs.
It was 10.00pm before we reached the show ground
and by then our gallant helpers had gone home in
disgust. Tim Brewster from the college helped for
a short while but he had to leave before long as his
exams were imminent. By 12.30 the following morning,
I decided I had done enough on my own, and left to
buy some much needed chips (the shop was just about
to close and had sold out of fish).
Five hours sleep and back to show. Sylvia and
Tom Aylward were at hand and we were soon busy
putting soil around the badger sett and pins in the
boarding surrounding the stand. By the time Sue Nash
of Romford arrived we had a very presentable display.
At 2.00pm the show opened and a steady stream
of children and parents were instructed on how to
distinguish a fox earth from a badger sett. Younger
children were sent to count the claws on a fox and
on the badger, and older children were shown the
difference between badger and fox hairs. A number
of people told us of badgers they had seen in Essex;
records that were very valuable. Many people en-
quired about the Club and six even joined.
On the Sunday we had things off pat and were
joined by Sarah Bills who added ornithological
expertise to our varied talents. Kevin Byrne and
family later joined us.
The Mayor of Dagenham congratulated us on the
stand and it was with mixed feelings of sorrow and
relief that the stand was dismantled in the evening.
Page 6