Page 53 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2023

Scottish Branch
Vice Chairman’s report
Scottish Branch – 200 Club
Thank you to all members who have submitted a Scottish Branch 200 club form, your support makes a big difference.
For 2023 we have once again delayed the start of the prize draw to run from March to Dec to allow for more applications to come in before we start. The prize draw is taken at the end of each month , so make sure you send in your forms for 2023 or print an extra form or two from the web site within the “Resources” section, the more the merrier.
Below are the last of the 2022 draw results, congratulations.
You do not have to be a Scottish Branch member (or even an
NVS member) to join, so please encourage friends and family too.
If anyone requires an extra
copy of the 200-club form, you
can now find a PDF copy in the “Resources” section of the NVS web site to enable you to print one out. Alternatively please contact Gareth Cameron. 2 Dyke Nook, Yeathouse Road, Frizington, Cumbria CA26 3QL, Telephone: 07935 117 397 or email: garethcameron04@gmail. com
Prize money is dependent on how many 200 Club members we have with half the revenue generated going towards the Scottish Branch funds and half going towards the 200-club prize money.
Thanks again for your support, it really makes a difference.
Month
1st Prize (£25)
2nd Prize (£13)
Oct
Dennis Healey
Norman McLean
Nov
Margaret Cook
Melvin Miller
Dec
Judith Watson
Linda Stocks
MEMBERS 30000 TO 39999
Sadly, I have to report that the Scottish Branch mourns the death of our Chair Ian Stocks and the thought of moving on without him and his guidance is
so difficult to bear. My thoughts are with Linda and Ian’s family though
such a difficult time. November 2022 saw another step towards normality
for Scottish Branch as we were able
to stage our annual Seminar at the Moredun Institute for the first time since November in 2019, which Ian hosted.
It’s been a fairly miserable spell weatherwise these last few months with snow compounded by frost and that hasn’t encouraged anyone to go out into the vegetable plot or even into their unheated tunnels and greenhouses. On a personal level, I was unlucky enough to fall victim to Covid which certainly has impacted on my growing efforts and that is an experience I hope not to repeat.
At the time of writing, the Branch is planning for the year ahead and our AGM is scheduled for 11th March. We intend
once again to have a presence at the Scone Palace Garden Fair at the beginning of June and are hoping for good weather as it is an outdoor event. In July, we normally have an outing to a walled garden attached to a large Country house/mansion or similar, followed by lunch and then visits to a couple of local growers. Details will follow later.
In August and September our members are generally fairly well occupied exhibiting at shows both North and South of the Border and this year our Branch Show is intended to be held at Haddington on 2nd September. We are hopeful it will be third time lucky as last year and the year before the Haddington venue became unavailable as it was needed for matters connected to the pandemic.
Beyond September we shall be planning for our next Seminar and hopefully it will be as successful as the last last one and I hope we can all do Ian proud.
All the best,
Frank Taylor
Obituary – Sammy Houston
We are sad to announce that Sammy Houston passed away
in January. Sammy, who was in his early 90’s, joined the NVS
back in 1969 and from then held many roles throughout his time
in the Society including Scottish Branch Committee member
from 1977 to 2012. Sammy became an NVS judge in 1978 was Chair of the South West of Scotland DA from the 1980’s and
gave many talks and lectures. He was a member of the National Executive committee throughout the 80’s and held the post of National Treasurer from 1988 to 1996 and was also Vice Chair
of the Scottish Branch. A life member, Sammy was awarded his NVS Gold medal in 1997 for his services to the Society. So many members have benefited from having known Sammy. Our heartfelt sympathy is with Sammy’s family, he will be sorely missed.
Scone Palace Garden Fair 2023
The Scottish Branch are planning to attend the Scone Place Garden Fair again this year following on from the inaugural event in 2022.
Dates for the event are Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd of June in the fabulous
grounds of the Scone Palace estate. We are planning to have a wide variety of vegetable plants and herb plants for sale along with our famous leek transplants, in bundles of 50 (and possibly a few strawberry plants? All being well). There will plenty of committee members available to answer and help with any gardening questions you may have.
The organisers plan to celebrate the best of Scottish gardening where our country’s top plant nurseries, garden centres and societies will join us on the main lawns under the backdrop of the historic Scone Palace - the crowning place of the Scottish Kings. Please take a look at the event of the NVS web site for more details.
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