Author Archives: Rickmansworth Horticultural Society

Autumn Show 2017

Our Autumn Show was a great success. The number of entries were well up on last year, especially in the domestic section where many had entered the recipe from our Year Book for Parsnip, Walnut and Orange cake.  The vegetables were particularly amazing. As it was warm and sunny, teas were served out in the cloisters.     A very enjoyable afternoon.  See pictures below for the full effect in glorious colour and a list of our main prize winners. Members may download the basic list of individual results via the members’ area.

Awards

Dahlias Highest Points Colin Evans Cup Andy Rogers
Dahlia First Time Winner Delderfield Cup Alison Sealy
Vegetables Highest Points Freeman Cup John Brackley
Decorative Classes Highest Points Kime Cup Lillian Gowing
Chrysanthemums Highest Points Members Perpetual Challenge Cup Jaleh Yeaman
Domestic Classes Highest Points Special Trophy Caroline Pretty
Mixed Flowers Vase Turner Perpetual Challenge Cup Julie Christophorou
Bowl Of Dahlias Varney Trophy Janet Tublin
Best Dahlia Exhibit National Dahlia Society Silver Medal Alison Sealy
Best Fruit Exhibit Clutterbuck Cup Andy Rogers
Best Vegetable Exhibit The Society Trophy John Brackley
Best Perennials Parsons Cup John Brackley
Junior Members Best Exhibit C E Venning Perpetual Challenge Cup Alexander Haigh

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Summer Show 2016

In spite of wet and windy weather in the few weeks before the show, there was a grand display flowers, though a few of the roses looked slightly battered!

An increase in the number of junior entries was very pleasing.  Exhibits in the cakes, breads, jams and wines were in abundance and there were some great pieces in the Handicraft section.  As usual Chris Cory and Lily Gowing excelled themselves in the floral art department and our President John Brackley with his amazing vegetables. There were fewer entries in the photographic section than usual.  Hopefully a nice summer will bring forth more for our Autumn Show on Saturday 3rd September.

Our afternoon teas with homemade cakes, provided as usual by Maggie and her band of helpers, were as popular as ever.

Our thanks go to all who helped set up the night before and clearing away afterwards.

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80th Birthday Celebrations: 1936-2016

Our birthday celebration on 11th June 2016 was a great success.  We hired the Cadogan Hall at the Royal Masonic School for Girls on Saturday evening 11th June. It was attended by 160 members and non-members

The guest speaker was Bob Flowerdew of B.B.C. Gardener’s Question Time fame, a very entertaining and amusing speaker. He turned much gardening advice on its head.   His general theme was that the experts over the years have got it wrong for modern gardening, turning an enjoyable hobby into hard work.  We were advised to sharpen our hoes, and grow for taste rather than for show or appearance! It was alight-hearted exploration of those less than wholly scientific, but rather interesting, aspects of gardening. 

Long standing member, Andy Rogers, did a great job as Master of Ceremonies and the evening was organised by Heather Pinder with the help of the committee.

A presentation was made to Audrey and Vic Hind in recognition of their dedication to the Society over 45 years, Audrey as treasurer and Vic as Chairman.

The birthday cake (baked and donated by Maggie Brady) was cut by Bob and passed around.  With our glasses of Prosecco held high, we toasted the Society.  A toast was then proposed to her Majesty, the Queen, who was celebrating her 90th birthday on the same weekend.

The evening ended with a session of lively questions to Bob and a book signing.

birthday

Click on this link to see a seletion of photos from the event by photographer Sue Lacey: http://9688.tifmember.com/v/photos/flower80

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Autumn Show 2015

On the 5th September our members did us proud once more.  In spite of very unhelpful weather conditions in the run up to the show, we had a grand array of exhibits in all categories. However, dahlias this year were disappointing.

There was an increase in the number of exhibits in both junior categories.  One of the pictures to be seen below shows one of our junior prize winners Amelie Melville, presenting an arrangement of flowers by Chris to the Reverend Deborah Snowball who very kindly presented the trophies.

Our afternoon teas were as popular as ever, thanks to Chris, Maggie and their helpers.

Many thanks, as always, go to everyone who helped, before, during and after the show.

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Summer Show 2015

We had another very successful Summer Show. Lots of exhibits with some new members showing for the first time, which was great. The roses were beautiful. There were some amazing handicraft exhibits and St Mary’s School had another splendid display. Domestic, photographic, junior and vegetable classes were all well represented and many trophies won. The hall looked lovely. Maggie Brady and Chris Corby excelled themselves once again with their special teas. And a bonus – we had afternoon tea out in the cloisters in the warm sunshine. 

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Summer Show 2014

Our Summer Show was once more a success and in spite of several of our regular exhibitors being on holiday the tables were full and many trophies were won.  An added attraction this year was a very impressive display of flowers and vegetables from the Garden Club run by.pupils of St Mary’s School.  We hope this will become a regular feature.

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Spring Show 2014

In spite of a very wet winter and early spring, Rickmansworth Horticultural Society held a highly successful and colourful Spring Show on Saturday 12th in St Mary’s Church Centre – the first of three planned for this year.

 The awards were presented by Mr Les Mead, chairman of Three Rivers District Council accompanied by his wife Carol.

Les’ blog of the event:

Rickmansworth & District Horticultural Society has been in existence since 1936 and it was a real pleasure to be invited to attend and present the prizes at their Spring Flower Show. As you can see from my photos on Flickr (link below), it’s not just about Horticulture, there were also Domestic, Handicraft, Photographic and Junior Classes. It was a delight to meet the exhibitors and  view their accomplishments which were on show for all to see.  It made me yearn to get out into my greenhouse, vacated over the last 8 years,  as being a councillor I never seem to find the time. We were welcomed by Mary Weatherilt, membership secretary, and Vic Hind the Chairman and shown the exhibits. The society has grown from strength to strength and now has 550 members, many of them present and it was good to see so many proud and happy people, willing to share their hobby.

 
 
Contact Mary on 775522 or email  membership@rickyhortsoc.co.uk

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