by Liz Woodall, Secretary of Ludlow WI

Jam-makers throughout the WI, and the jam-lovers they tend to be married to, were all thrilled by the announcement of the WI’s first ever national jam festival.  This was a fantastic initiative – everyone just wondered why it had not been thought of earlier!

The event was open to all-comers, with 11 classes covering not just a range of different types of jam, but a wide range of different types of competitor.  There were special classes for men, children, celebrities and cottage industries.  Entrants could try their skill with traditional jams and jellies, or give rein to their inventiveness in the ‘Jam with a difference’ class which was really a case of  “anything goes”. 

Only one class was restricted to WI members, and for this the staging and presentation was also judged, in the great tradition of Women’s Institute competitions. 

Otherwise, the usual rules applied by WI judges were relaxed just a little, to avoid tripping up the novices and non-members that the festival particularly hoped to attract.  There was, however, to be a prize for the “best-dressed jar”. 

I decided to enter two pots, in the stone fruit and ‘jam with a difference’ classes.  Not having made any jam for several years, this was ambitious, but what the heck – I just thought Ludlow ought to be represented.  I also rang up Oak Farm at Ditton Priors, with which our family has been associated for nearly 20 years, and suggested that they might be interested in the cottage industry class – indeed they were!

Out of the cellar came my preserving pan and all the paraphernalia associated with this very satisfying activity.  Off to the market I went to find the best local ingredients.  My husband very generously did not object to the kitchen table being unavailable for any other purpose for several days, and even went into town to buy supplies of lids.  The end result of my first gloriously hot, sticky session was Spiced Damson Jam (yes, all the stones were taken out – husband helped with that too!) based on a recipe that my mother had been given in Yugoslavia 30-odd years ago.  The second entry was Plum & Hazelnut Surprise Jam, a recipe which I’ve always loved – I gave my boss a sample and his daughter said it tasted like Christmas pudding. 

Another happy evening was spent designing labels on the computer, and then “dressing” the pots in their Sunday best.  The application form was filled in and everything made ready.  My brother turned up with Oak Farm’s entry, which was Blackcurrant Jam, made with their own organic fruit.  All three pots were safely delivered to Denman on our way back from “down south”. 

The great weekend – 20th/21st November – arrived.  We were again down south, and got a ‘phone call from Oak Farm to say that they had been asked to send someone to the prize-giving, and would I like to represent them.  You bet I would!  Husband and I had planned to spend the Sunday there anyway. 

On arrival at the teaching block (which was entirely filled by the event) we were given the news that yes, Oak Farm was a winner – their pot was enthroned above the rest of its class with the judge’s single-word comment “Perfect!”.  National chairman Ruth Bond was one of the first to offer congratulations, and was interested to hear what sort of an organisation Oak Farm is. 

Whilst waiting for the prize-giving, we toured all the exhibits and displays, bought goodies at the traders’ stalls, enjoyed a cream tea, swopped jamming experiences with everyone else, bought raffle tickets of course, watched demonstrations, and generally had a whale of a time.  We even found my own two entries, and I was absolutely dead chuffed that the damson one had achieved full marks in my first ever jam competition.  Several others had also scored 20/20, so there had obviously been a taste-off to choose the class winner. 

The prize-giving began with a special extra prize for the lady who had entered a glass jar neatly packed with toy cars and labelled “Traffic Jam”.  Details of all the prize-winners are on the NFWI website.  When Oak Farm’s turn came I was invited to say a few words about it, so I explained that it is run by the County Council as a place of work for people with learning disabilities; that it is very much loved not only by everyone who works there, but also by the village community; and that everyone associated with the farm would be incredibly proud that they had won this competition.  The audience was clearly very touched by this information, because a great many people talked to me about it afterwards. 

I was overwhelmed by the prizes that I was to take back to Shropshire.  There was a large box of preserving equipment, a hamper of ingredients, and vouchers for special offers and discounts on all sorts of things.  Most valuable of all was a double bursary that would allow two people to attend a preserving course at Denman.  We just about managed to fit everything into the car, and two days later I delivered it all, together with the full story and bucketfuls of good wishes from the people I’d met, to an ecstatic crowd at Oak Farm. 

We all agreed that we will be entering again in 2011!