My Visit to Castle Howard & Minster of York, England

En route to the MGA Conference in Cambridge we flew to Leeds.

Visiting our mushroom friends Paul and Pam Middlebrook.
We went to their home and had coffee with cookies on Monday morning, September 23 of 1985.
Pieter went with friend Paul to his mushroom farm and Pam did take Alice Carapiet (whom we also would meet at the two SPAWN MATE SYMPOSIUMS in Scottsdale, Arizona) and me for a ride.
During all International events we would run into our mushroom friends from all over the world!
Her husband George Carapiet was with SPAWN MATE at the time.
Both had Armenian background.

Here, friend Pam and I are in front of Castle Howard on September 23, 1985...
Wearing my tweed woolen Planet suit, the one that Pam helped select for Pieter  when he was shopping for me in 1982. That was after receiving his Sinden Award, at Marks & Spencer in Harrogate.
Pam was smart to ask Pieter, which of the sales ladies at the department store, resembled my build.
So that worked out perfect!
We enjoyed lunch at Castle Howard restaurant.
Nowadays they even allow people to have their wedding there...

See more info about Castle Howard just click it.

We had spent one night at the Post House Hotel in Leeds/Bradford Bramhope, near the Leeds airport.

Here Pam showed us the impressive Minster of York, seen from the city walls and inside.
See here: Walking around the York Walls just click it.
By the way, dear friends Paul & Pam Middlebrook were so gracious for allowing Pieter's niece Judith, to stay with them for several weeks one summer.
Coming from The Netherlands, she enjoyed this country side living and horse back riding very much.

Postcard from York where you can see the Minster of York to the right, from another side.
Bottom you see some of the old medieval city walls, from where my above photo was taken.
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We did have to depart by train around 4:45 PM to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire...
These were the pre-days before our MGA Mushroom Conference in Cambridge later that week.

Still have my Planet tweed woolen suit...
Also the same Italian Piero Erbacci bag from Florence.
Not the pumps I wore in 1985...
Of course Speckie girl and Spooky boy want to be near me.

Photos are from February 16... with Spooky's tail on my left side!
I also have shortened the skirt and with the fabric left over I created four belt loops for wearing a belt with it.
A bonus when you never gain weight!
Wearing my Escada silk blouse, Escada belt and pumps.

Thanks for your visit and comment!

Related links:

{1987 Scottsdale Arizona versus 2014} | previous post about SPAWN MATE SYMPOSIUM where I met Alice Carapiet again...
1982 Sinden Award for Pieter at The Hotel Majestic, Harrogate, England | previous post when husband Pieter bought the Marks & Spencer suit for me

Happy With New Refrigerator

Once in a while we live through something that is NOT working out well.

As our refrigerator suddenly 'died' we had to find a new one.

There was a repair in June but now after having it for 16 years it was gone...

The search was mainly for finding one that would fit inside the opening in our kitchen!

On line search is great and as it turned out we could even get it through the local Home Depot.

So on October 10, husband Pieter did place the order and paid for it.

It took us however 2 months for having it look like this photo!
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At the time, I was still working at our local OFTC (Oconee Fall Line Technical College) as a tutor and away from home.

Pieter was very much in favor for being able to pay a fee of $ 20.00 for having the old one hauled off by the same people that would deliver the new one.

So here comes the new one...

When they delivered it, the doors from the living room and kitchen had to be removed in order to have it passed through the opening.
Even after taking off the two halves of the refrigerator's French doors!

They did build it up again, once inside the kitchen.

 Pieter happily gave them a tip for all the heavy work and for hauling off the old one, then they left.

Poor husband Pieter had not yet seen that the doors were hung wrong!

When I looked at our new addition, I noticed that the French doors were not evenly in the center.

Wider gap towards the bottom...

Look at the gap between the freezer drawer and the left half of those French doors!

Also the top was quite a difference!

When Pieter went to the local Home Depot to the area where a gentleman had his desk for kitchen sales, he got kind of bullied and sent off with the excuse that his 'complaint' was not valid since the warranty of 30 days from delivery had expired.

WHAT?!

Poor Pieter did not know that I'd replied to the review request right away and that I also got screenshots.

So I stepped in and showed this not so friendly person, a screenshot on my MacBook where he could read my on line review from November 2nd.

Well within the 30 days... 

He started typing on his computer, sending info to the head of sales... telling us that 'she' would give us a call on Monday, this was on Friday afternoon.

I asked if I could have her phone number so we could put that in our iPhone to know who's calling.

We get so many Robocalls that we don't answer.

So he handed me her business card on which also was her email address.

I did compose an email, with all the photos etc.

Never received a call, neither a reply to my email.

Pieter went back to the store again and met a very friendly and courteous lady whom we know.

Her sisters are dear friends and we went to the wedding of her niece.

She stepped in and within days, the delivery people stopped by to FINALLY take care of this problem.

The noisiness of the refrigerator also stopped...

On December 11, after two months of staring at those gaps, it finally got resolved!

When I came home that day from tutoring at the OFTC, I was quite happy.

So what did we learn?

The courtesy of ONE kind employee can solve problems fast and efficient!

1982 Sinden Award for Pieter at The Hotel Majestic, Harrogate, England

Yes, in 1982, husband Pieter became the very first non-British, to receive the prestigious Sinden Award at the Mushroom Industry Conference in The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate in England.

The Sinden Award...

This very Waterford Crystal Decanter was engraved with the words SINDEN AWARD 1982 and presented as a gift to Pieter

Here the engraved words SINDEN AWARD 1982 are reflecting in the silver tray...

SINDEN

AWARD

1982
Finally a sunny day for making these photos on March 6...

MUSHROOM INDUSTRY CONFERENCE
Harrogate 1982
THE HOTEL MAJESTIC, HARROGATE

Banquet Programme

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Grace will be said by Mr. J. H. Green

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THE QUEEN

Proposed by Mr. H. J. Linfield 

Chairman of the Mushroom Growers' Association

(those that are not familiar with this British ritual, a toast to the Queen is always made during a special event).

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THE GUESTS

Proposed by Mr. H. J. Linfield 

Chairman of the Mushroom Growers' Association

(another formal ritual where each name is being called off and that person walks in...)

To blogger friend Rosemary a question: What is the staff called, to knock on the floor with, before calling the persons names?

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Guest Speaker

Mr. Brian Wash, Q.C.

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PRIZE-GIVING and INVESTITURE OF 

THE INCOMING CHAIRMAN

Menu

Whitby Crab and Salmon Mousse

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Savoury Yorkshire Pudding with Onion Gravy

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Wansford Steak and fresh vegetables

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Wharfedale Orange Tart

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Wensleydale Cheese & biscuits

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Coffee and mints

Pieter gave his Sinden Award speech:

Mr. Chairman, ladies and gents.

It is a great honor I realize, and I am very grateful to all of you, especially the nominating committee, for getting this Sinden Award.

It will be now approximately 25 years ago, I suppose, that I visited the U.K. for the first time.

I was working in the Extension Service as the brand new assistant of what I can now name as my mushroom parents; Pieter Bels and his wife Henriette Bels–Koning.

I remember very well that we visited the Noble-Atkins farm, with wooden shelf beds, gleaming from the Cresylic Acid, or Baker and Jones, using trays with a loose, separate bottom. We visited Barton who just started in a few handicraft houses and also Linfield, especially to see how a big, mechanized composting yard was designed and how an automatic composter works. We also had a look at Peter Stanley–Evans' farm. He showed us his nice chrysanthemums first and later the mushrooms. He grew them in soldier cribs, in army beds, so in fact he is the first real bed grower.

Later, many times, a number of you gave us hospitality and opened your farms for my Dutch students. 

In my lecture, on Thursday, I have already said that we in The Netherlands realize very well that we also learned from our colleagues abroad, not the least from the U.K. growers as well. So the first instigation for this Award is given by yourself.

My job is, as you know, gathering practical experience and knowledge, translating that into useful growers language and then selling the message.

So, if I was in the position to do something for the Mushroom Industry than it was because of a number of people, growers as well as colleagues, supporting me with their experience and the results of their research. I like to accept this Award therefore, not as Pieter Vedder as a person, but as a representative of a country.

I think, this Award is a mark of nearly 25 years of good cooperation and even friendship between the mushroom growers in two countries. I hope from both sides we are in the position to continue that fellowship and friendship, because 'You can't have too much of a good thing'.

(The English' well-known slogan or quote to promote mushrooms...)

Thank you very, very much!

 The Sinden Award 1982
Pieter Vedder
In recognition of his outstanding
contributions to the
Mushroom Industry
for many years both in the
International field and on behalf of
British Growers who have made this
presentation.
His book
'Modern Mushroom Growing'
has found a place on every progressive
grower's desk.
His mushroom courses at Horst
have a worldwide reputation and
have helped innumerable growers,
young and not so young, from many countries.
In addition, his advice is always
available to anyone who asks and
is always cogent.
Chairman

Mushroom Growers' Association

The Best Conference for Many Years...

Excerpt from the above page: The afternoon session started with Mr. Pieter Vedder of Horst -- the 1982 Sinden Award Winner -- giving his Sinden Award lecture 'Our Formula to be Competitive in the Mushroom Business'. Just click the link for viewing Pieter's lecture!

Also published in The Mushroom Journal January 1983 ←click ISMS link.
One has come to expect over the years a very high standard from Pieter and his audience were not disappointed.

Working for the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries at the time was not easy as you had almost no freedom.
In June, husband Pieter had already written his boss, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries for allowing him to travel to England...
This is the reply from July 5, 1982
In response to your above-mentioned writing, I notify you that on my behalf I do not encounter any objections if your board allows you to receive the award personally.
As for the exact period of your absence, I will be pleased for being informed in time.
I have also taken note that the costs associated with attending the conference are borne by the Mushroom Growers Association.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to compliment you on this Honorable Award.
The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries
For this, the Director of agricultural education, Dr. Ir. P.K. Schenk

IN THE SUNSHINE
Principal P. Vedder of the education center for mushroom cultivation in Horst, The Netherlands has been decorated with the high English distinction of the Sinden Award. This award is awarded since 1975 to a person who has made himself meritorious in the mushroom cultivation. Vedder from Horst, The Netherlands, is the first foreigner to whom this recognition was awarded. Congratulations.

Published in the local Echo on Friday, October 15, 1982

High Foreign Award
Mr. P. Vedder, director of the Centre for Mushroom Cultivation Education, Westerholtstraat in Horst, The Netherlands, was presented the Sinden Award at the annual congress of the Mushroom Growers' Association in England.
This award was set up in 1975 by the English Mushroom Growers' Association and is awarded annually to a person who made himself meritorious in the mushroom cultivation. This award was first  presented to Dr. Sinden, who was the most important international figure in the mushroom world in the eyes of the English growers. The award is also named after him.
Mr. P. Vedder is the first foreigner to qualify for this award. The annual congress of the Mushroom Growers' Association in England was held in Harrogate this year. On Thursday, October 7, Mr Vedder held a lecture on this subject: "Our Formula to be Competitive in the the Mushroom Business".
On the closing day of the Congress, on October 9, the award was presented. He received the award for his entire work for the Education in Mushroom Cultivation. Specifically 3 points were emphasized:
a. His book "Modern Mushroom Growing" no mushroom grower in the world is without it. (It is even translated into Polish).
b. The Centre for Mushroom Cultivation Education in Horst organizes annually two important courses for the growers in English.
c. Mr Vedder's willingness to always be available with practical advice for the grower.
This year Mr Vedder is also involved in mushroom cultivation for 25 years. He was a researcher at the Experimental Station for the Mushroom Culture in 1957. In 1961, the first Dutch edition of his famous book "Modern Mushroom Cultivation" appeared. In 1963, he was instructed to set up education for the mushroom growers. In 1964, the first courses were given and in 1969, the school started in its own building on the Westerholtstraat.

The same story got picked up by other News Papers as well...

An old fashioned telegram from Indonesia, from Mr. Soetantyo from Mantrust, Jakarta for whom we later worked... We knew him already for a number of years through the World Bank.

Numerous cards and congrats poured in for Pieter.

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Just have to add that my dear husband Pieter has always been a down to earth person, approachable for everyone and he always helped out.

He never used his title as his motto always has been: "I hope they respect me for what I am and not because of my title"! 

His very humble upbringing during the depression years and WWII made him appreciate so much more the true values of life.

He never accepted any bribes for promoting a certain product—and thus he never accumulated great wealth.

What most counts is the worldwide friendships that last a lifetime!

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Too bad that on his special day of recognition, he was all by himself... his ex-wife Thea never had a real interest in his work and was not eager to join him. She never kept a scrapbook for him or whatsoever. Her interests were only for her hobbies and tennis, she never worked a single day.

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I no doubt would have felt honored to stand by him during this ceremony!

It was only four months later that Pieter and I embarked on our life's journey together as we found TRUE LOVE!

We both treasure our INTERNAL WEALTH of worldwide friendships and many fond memories!

That is what life is all about, for helping others to achieve a better life and for creating fond memories to look back on towards the end of your life...

Related links:
1978 - P.J.C. Vedder's Modern Mushroom Growing Book Published in English | previous post by me
1980 MGA Conference Reception in Royal Albert Hall, London | previous post by me
Husband Pieter Speaks at MGA Conference, Bournemouth - England | previous post by me

Husband Pieter visiting Mushrooms in the Cave - Bradford-on-Avon in England | previous post by me

Visiting A.G. Linfield Mushroom Compost Facility in England  | previous post by me

Husband Pieter met with Darlington Spawn Makers and Fred Atkins in England | previous post by me

SO Happy for Having Met Another WRITING Mushroom Wife in the U.K. | previous post by me

Husband Pieter's Fond Relationship with Mushroom Growers in  the U.K. | previous post by me