Chiswick Apple Day 2025 picture gallery

Ducking and diving, bobbing and scratting

The things you have to do in politics. Eat your heart out Ed Davey. Hammersmith & Chiswick MP Andy Slaughter and Hounslow Cllr Amy Croft smashed it on Saturday with some premium apple bobbing. It was not recorded whether they actually managed to get their teeth into anything, but such is the nature of polictics. The terms of office are so short.

Showing off the Mayoral Bling, Amy also engaged in a bit of cross-party scratting with Conservative councillor Jack Emsley and Cllr Ranjit Gill (who manages to be cross-party all by himself).

Scratting, for the uninitiated, is pulping the fruit the old fashioned way.  For more information on Apple Day and its history, click the link below.

READ ALSO: Chiswick’s Apple Day – Saturday 6 September

(L) Cllr Ranjit Gill operating the apple press; (R) Cllr Jack Emsley and Cllr Amy Croft collaborating

There were many other things to do as well as making juice. Organiser Karen Liebreich, director of Abundance London, told The Chiswick Calendar a few facts about the day and wanted to give out a few public thank-yous:

• Number of cups of apple juice drunk:  985
• Longest apple peel: 167cm (Nina, aged 13 years)
• Top synchronized apple bobbing:  The Worshipful The Mayor of the London Borough of Hounslow, Councillor Amy Croft and MP Andy Slaughter
• Most seed packets decorated and filled: Chiswick Horticultural Society
• Best rammed clay insect bricks: Dean Griffiths, Northcote Nature Reserve
• Top cabinet-maker (Cabinet of Curiousity/Seed Swap): James Pooley
• Best foodbank: City Harvest (for loan of chilled storage and logistics assistance)
• Most relaxed hosts: Chiswick Library
• Top bunting stringers: Steve Nutt and Amanda Parker
• Top press trouble-shooting: Tim Henderson
• Top cross-party synchronized apple pressing: Cllr Jack Emsley, Cllr John Stroud-Turp
• Top painting children patience award: Professor Jeremy Levy
• Top lavender bag stitching: Make & Mend team
• Cleanest washed apples: The Friday washing team
• Gazebo set up: Military precision and co-ordination displayed to perfection
• Clear up: The fastest take-down and cleaning operation in the land.

Thank you all!

Here are a few photos and comments from the public on the day …

“It was a really brilliant event for children and adults alike; thank you so much to you and the rest of the team for putting it on”

“I just wanted to email and say what a fantastic event today was”

Amy showing off the Mayoral Bling and matching flip flops

“It’s rare to see a Mayor and an MP apple bobbing”

Labour Cllr John Stroud-Turp and Conservative Cllr Jack Emsley workign together

“It had a really lovely vibe to it, very small village”

Mayor of Hounslow Cllr Amy Croft with James Pooley by the Cabinet of Curiosities and the Seed Swap

“Very busy with lots of activities for people of all ages”

Amy and Andy scratting with Abundance London volunteer Jenny Figaro; Amy measuring her personal best go at apple peeling

“Really good to meet lovely new people” (a volunteer). “A wonderful day!”

Longest apple peel

In the contest to produce the longest apple peel, here are the results:

3-8yr olds

Evie, aged 4 – 112cm
Veronica, aged 3 – 70cm
Gia, aged 8 – 147cm

8-12yr olds

Chloe, aged 11 – 153cm
Milana, aged 10 – 153cm

12+

Nina, aged 13 – 167cm

adults

Nicole – 150cm
Iryna – 130cm

Drinking the produce

“Well done and thank you. The kids were over the moon with the activities”

“Such a fun morning. Thank you, and the juice was delicious”

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar