Nosy #8 answer

The case: The curious case of the empty plinth

Giles Peartree at the riverside seat, carrying the flower press, at 12:00.

It was taken for a quick polish. The dahlias now have a cup bright enough to admire themselves in.

The little brass cup for best dahlias has left its plinth. Judging begins after lunch.

A reliable witness saw the person carrying the flower press take it away.

The complete arrangement

• Bertie Fenwick: cottage garden · striped umbrella · 11:30
• Jasper Fennel: lily pond · cotton reel · 10:30
• Giles Peartree: riverside seat · flower press · 12:00
• Sylvie Puddle: scout hut · pencil case · 11:00
• Greta Wrenfold: bell tower · pink rosette · 10:00

The clues

1. The person carrying the flower press is the person there at 12:00.
2. The person at the scout hut is the person there at 11:00.
3. The person at the lily pond is either the person there at 10:30 or the person there at 12:00 (one only).
4. Jasper Fennel is either the person at the cottage garden or the person at the lily pond (one only).
5. The person carrying the cotton reel is the person there at 10:30.
6. Greta Wrenfold was earlier than Sylvie Puddle.
7. The person at the scout hut is either the person carrying the cotton reel or the person carrying the pencil case (one only).
8. Giles Peartree is the person at the riverside seat.
9. Greta Wrenfold is the person at the bell tower.
10. Bertie Fenwick is either the person carrying the cotton reel or the person carrying the striped umbrella (one only).
11. Jasper Fennel is either the person there at 10:30 or the person there at 11:00 (one only).

Opening deductions

1. Clue 4: Jasper Fennel is either the person at the cottage garden or the person at the lily pond (one only). With one of each per person, Jasper Fennel / riverside seat is ruled out.
2. Clue 6: Greta Wrenfold was earlier than Sylvie Puddle. With one of each per person, Sylvie Puddle / 10:00 is ruled out.
3. Clue 8: Giles Peartree is the person at the riverside seat. With one of each per person, Bertie Fenwick / riverside seat is ruled out.
4. Clue 9: Greta Wrenfold is the person at the bell tower. With one of each per person, Bertie Fenwick / bell tower is ruled out.
5. Clue 10: Bertie Fenwick is either the person carrying the cotton reel or the person carrying the striped umbrella (one only). With one of each per person, Bertie Fenwick / pencil case is ruled out.
6. Clue 11: Jasper Fennel is either the person there at 10:30 or the person there at 11:00 (one only). With one of each per person, Jasper Fennel / 10:00 is ruled out.

Every clue is necessary for the unique complete arrangement. The witness statement identifies which person moved the missing object.