Page 48 - ALG Issue 2 2025

LONDON Welcome to…
6 individuals
Dormers Wells Allotments
Heron Way Community Allotment
North Mitcham Plot Owners
Association
London Borough of Islington
NAS London Region Annual General Meeting
Our AGM took place in a new venue in Waterloo on Saturday 15th February.
The meeting was well supported, and a
welcome number of new faces were in
attendance. These were both established
members returning and more recent
converts to the cause.
We try to keep all our regional meetings
as short as possible so that maximum
time is allowed for the Guest Speaker
presentation and a following discussion.
Therefore, watchful eyes ensure that I
keep my digressions to a minimum!
The AGM follows the usual pattern
with the officers and committee
members all standing down and
either standing for election again
or not. Sadly, we lost two
committee members
to outside forces
with Rob Mellor
and Paula Owen
both giving up
their positions.
There were no nominations
other than from existing
officers and committee so
all remaining were elected
un-opposed.
The AGM did give us the
opportunity to formally
elect our interim Chairman,
Alan Marsh, who had been asked to stand
when Keith Meakin stepped down.
An amendment to our Regional Rules
was passed by vote which limits any future
committee to seven members plus officers.
Therefore, it is plain that we have several
vacancies on the London Committee which
we would like to fill. I echo the suggestion
of our Secretary, Penny Smith, that if you
feel you want to get involved then
please contact us and we would be
happy for you to attend one of our
(semi formal) meetings to see exactly
what we get up to.
The highlight, beyond any doubt, of
the meeting was the presentation
given by Zoe
Claymore, the
RHS Gold
Medal winner,
garden designer,
allotmenteer, NAS
Ambassador and more.
Zoe is incredibly busy at all times,
but especially now planning for
a debut at the Chelsea Flower
Show 2025. We were very
grateful that Zoe doggedly stuck
to her decision to come to our
AGM.
Her lovely presentation took us on her
own journey to becoming an award-winning
designer and communicator. This included a
courageous career change and retraining to
achieve all that she has so far in order to be
doing what she really loves.
In addition to a forensic knowledge of her
subject, Zoe is a passionate and captivating
communicator. If you get the chance to
meet her, whether in the audience, at
a show or even as a client you will be
enthralled.
When the meeting, presentation and
discussions had come to an end, we locked
the Church Hall doors and a number of us
headed to a local pub for lunch, drinks and
even more allotment talk.
48 | Issue 2 2025 | Allotment and Leisure Gardener