Page 46 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2024

OBITUARY
ARTHUR PROVAN
The Scottish branch is deeply saddened to announce the death of Arthur Provan. Arthur had a passion for growing vegetables which led him to join the National Vegetable Society (NVS) back in 1978. He quickly became a committee member of the Scottish Branch of
the NVS in 1980 and was an active, enthusiastic and most valuable member of the Branch culminating in him being awarded a prestigious NVS Silver medal in 2003 and then a Gold medal in 2011 for his services to the NVS. Arthur was fully involved in every meeting up until such time that he was latterly unable to attend due to his health. Despite his ill health he still kept up to date via Committee Meeting minutes and phone calls.
In the early days, Arthur was known
for his quality Onions and Pot Leeks and was also an expert regarding the use of lights in veg growing due to his knowledge whilst working for the Council Lighting Department. Arthur was the go-to person for both advice and “sourcing lights” and he instigated the use of “grow lights” in
the early 80’s which benefitted so many growers with his innovative ideas.
Visitors to Arthur’s Garden were gobsmacked with his enormous greenhouse containing fantastic veg which was always miles ahead of everyone else’s. This was especially helpful as
Arthur grew a vast amount of vegetables, which he liked to give away for free to
new growers to encourage them as well as growing plants, from Pot leeks to Pak Choi, for the numerous veg displays at Gardening Scotland to help promote the NVS throughout 20+ years. Arthur was also famous for organising a supply of
leek plants for branch funds every year
at Gardening Scotland and both he and Margaret would ferry ten thousand leeks
a day! in the boot of his Jaguar from Jimmy Orr to the event......that’s probably half a million leek plants over the years! He was always meticulous in ensuring displays were precise to the millimetre and encouraged everyone to be the best that they could be.
Arthur loved to travel throughout the
UK, whether it was with his friend Jimmy Roberts, (they were as thick as thieves), heading off to the Pot leek shows, or organising Inter-branch Competitions at the NVS National Championships where he proudly represented the Scottish branch entry.
Arthur built up an extensive network of growers and friends and he enjoyed his
annual trips to Medwyn’s Master class weekends. Andrew Jones fondly recalled a time from one of these weekends where he sat with Arthur at breakfast time and just as Andrew had finished his cooked breakfast, Arthur hid Andrew’s empty plate under his own and blagged a second breakfast for Andrew claiming that he hadn’t yet been served.
Annual trips around the country from 1985 onwards with the Garvald Leek and Onion Club always had a wee detour
to pick up Arthur on the way and he thoroughly enjoyed these visits which had great comradery. For many years Arthur was also the Chairman of the Strathclyde Leek and Onion Society and, along with support of his wife Margaret who was Treasurer, successfully organised and ran their annual show at the Cardwell Garden Centre in Gourock.
The backbone of a team and a well- respected grower, exhibitor and mentor, Arthur’s legacy continues, and he will be fondly remembered and sorely missed within the veg growing circles throughout the U.K.
The poem below was written about Arthur by a good family friend, Sandra Linton and we would like to share it with you. Arthur’s wife, Margaret would like to thank everyone for their kindness, cards, flowers, calls and support.
Trowel in hand he stood there proud of tomatoes that he’d sown,
of courgettes, carrots, onions, leeks, all of which he’d grown.
A lifetime spent with earthy hands, from planting all the seed, providing for his family,
a feast from which to feed.
Veggies grew in great abundance, of every colour bright.
He cared from them most tenderly, he cared all day and night.
Patiently, he tended
to all his little sprouts, watering and nurturing
till they could see the light.
Always proud but often strict, this gardener had a way
of helping little seedlings grow so none would ever stray.
Arthur loved his garden,
His veggies were his life.
It was also somewhere to escape When in trouble with the wife!
Think of me next time you stand where a veggie garden grows, for there I’ll be in sun and earth and in the wind that blows.
Dundee and
East of Scotland
District
Association
A reminder that our programme
of Autumn/Winter taks has commenced on Sunday afternoons at 2pm in the hall of the Old Craigie Road Allotments, Old Craigie Road, Dundee DD4 7HX:
29 September 2024 – Bruce MacLeod, Pot Plants 27 October 2024 –
Alistair Barnard, Cut flowers
46 Simply Vegetables