The Great Bishopstone Onion Theft

I find it hard to believe I missed this story. It's been front page news on the local newspaper and I didn't hear about it until tonight until our Morris Side had it's weekly practice (beer drinking) session.

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/3667365.Kids_teary_eyed_at_onion_theft/




Its an amazing story and just shows what low lifes visit our lovely little community.

There is an allotment on the island in the middle of our village pond where the school children grow vegetables. I even showed our American intern Ashley down there on Saturday morning. Sometime in the days running up to the annual veg and flower show someone stole the onions that the children were going to enter.

I quote from the article above...

" CHILDREN were close to tears after their prized onions for the village show were pinched from the school allotment.

The Bishopstone Primary School youngsters, who harvested the vegetables themselves, have made posters appealing for information about the onion theft.

Ten-year-old Ryan Sutton said: “The thief should own up before he eats them.”

The onions had been grown especially for tomorrow’s garden show in the village.

About 30 onions and a dozen shallots were left on the bed to dry out when they were swiped.

Headteacher Sue Walton said: “We are flabbergasted that anyone should do this. We have always left the allotment open as we have always been able to trust people. The children were really upset.”

Even though the theft took place 10 days ago, no leads have sprouted regarding the onions’ whereabouts.

Gardener Adrian Dent, known to schoolchildren as Top Turnip, said: “There have been no rumours yet and all is quiet in the local pub.

“It was a wonderful crop and the children would have won a prize at the show.

“I think it was an inside job as whoever did this knows their onions.

“We should catch the culprit out, as the children have done some good posters.”

Some posters show weeping onions, while another displays an adventurous vegetable heading into the distance with a rucksack on its back.

Sue said: “We are going to put the posters up around the village and hope someone will own up.”

The children hope their efforts will eventually peel back the layers of the crime.

Nine-year-old Molly Barratt, said: “The people who did it should give them back because if they enter them into the show, we will find out.”

Fellow pupil Charlotte Cunnington, 10, said: “We worked really hard to make the onions and then someone took them without permission.”

Sue said: “The children's parents were indignant and all said they couldn’t believe it.

The produce is for the children in school and anything excess is sold to raise money for the allotment.”

They school hopes to enter some of their other produce into the Bishopstone Gardening Society show instead, which is due to take place at 3pm tomorrow. "