Page 40 - Simply Veg 1 2024

Martin Welsh FNVS Obituary
Sadly, we need to let you know
about the sad demise in July
of Martin Welsh, sometime
member of the Scottish
Branch Committee and he
also helped Jim Williams FNVS
in setting up the National
Judging Exam process. Martin
was also Chairman of Grampian DA for a number of years, and he helped set up and organise the DA’s Seminars.
Martin was an exceptional man with a quirky sense of humour, and he never shirked from voicing his opinion. Martin was born in July 1937. He started his working life as a sound engineer with the BBC and after various career changes over the years ended up as Head of Communications for BP. He hosted many garden visits and was extremely proud of his poly palace. He also gave a variety of talks to local gardening groups. He had health problems latterly having suffered a stroke and an aneurism but retained his involvement with the DA until 2019 when DVLA took his licence away. He is a huge loss to his family but also to his friends within and without of the NVS.
North of Scotland DA (NoSDA) Report
2023 DA SHOW
Once again Simpsons Garden Centre, Inverness did us proud with a prime position for our Show with plenty of staging and tabling; by advertising us on their Facebook site; and donating the prize for Best-in-Show. Already, Simpsons have confirmed their sponsorship for our next DA Show on 7 September 2024.
Thanks to our members who exhibited and congratulations to those who got tickets and prizes. We would have liked to see more exhibitors, but members seem to be taking time to get back into the habit. Fred Stewart FNVS came across from Portlethen to judge for his third year. We had a few very interested visitors and they have been invited to attend our DA Members Meetings.
The 2023 DA Results:
Class 4:
3 Globe Beetroot
1 entry
1st Bob Marshall
Local Shows
Charles Scott and Bruce Begg did very well at the Black Isle Show. Bruce Begg and Davy Munro got tickets at Alness Show. Hoss Martin did very well at Dufftown and had Best Exhibit in Fruit and Veg section with a collection consisting of Blanched Leeks, Celery, Tomatoes, Cauliflowers and Potatoes Also Best overall exhibit in show and potato trophy. Willie Macpherson did well at Dufftown too – Best Exhibit in veg excluding collections, and tickets for fruit, veg, Chrysanths, cut flowers and roses. Dena Cruikshank got tickets at Dufftown Show for cut flowers, beans, and fruit; she got tickets and trophies at her home show Rothes and also tickets at Lhanbryde. Peter Fitch won 5 cups at Lhanbryde, including most points in fruit and veg (again!) and for his best ever veg box; he got 4 cups at Rothes, including most points in veg and for best leeks.
Judging
Hoss Martin, John Mackay, and Peter Fitch judged veg and fruit at various local shows.
Class 1:
4 White Potatoes
6 entries
1st Charles Scott 2nd Charles Scott 3rd Bruce Begg
Class 2:
4 Coloured Potatoes
6 entries
1st Charles Scott 2nd Charles Scott 3rd Hoss Martin
Class 3:
5 Runner Beans
4 entries
1st Peter Fitch 2nd Charles Scott 3rd Charles Scott
Class 5:
3 Onions from Set
6 entries
1st Charles Scott
Best Exhibit in Classes 1-9
2nd Charles Scott 3rd Hoss Martin
Class 6:
3 Onions from Seed
6 entries
1st Charles Scott 2nd Bruce Begg 3rd Bruce Begg
Class 7:
3 Stump Carrots
0 entries
Class 8:
6 Shallots
4 entries
1st Charles Scott 2nd Charles Scott 3rd Bruce Begg
Class 9:
4 Medium Tomatoes
10 entries
1st Charles Scott 2nd Charles Scott 3rd Davy Munro
Class 10:
Mini-Collection
5 entries
1st Charles Scott
Best-in-Show
2nd Charles Scott 3rd Stuart Oakley
Class 11:
Kitchen Veg Box
5 entries
1st Charles Scott 2nd Davy Munro 3rd Bob Marshall
DA Members Meetings
We have decided to change our meeting days and times because we think that dark evening meetings in Inverness
in the Autumn and Winter weather may not suit members travelling some distance and also possibly inconvenient for some outside speakers. As a trial for our 2023/24 session meetings will be on Sunday afternoons. By the time you are reading this article, our October and November meetings will have taken place.
Our DA’s AGM is booked for 28 January 2024, and we hope that John Mackay will be able to give us his usual annual round-up of the 2023 shows.
John ‘Hoss’ Martin, Chair, NoSDA
Class 12:
3 Onions DTB’s “Falco”
2 entries
1st Charles Scott 2nd Peter Fitch
Class 13:
Any Other Veg
10 entries
1st Charles Scott 2nd Charles Scott 3rd Bruce Begg
40 Simply Vegetables
Scottish Branch
Two members showed at the Branch Championships with Charles Scott gaining a 3rd with onions from set and Hoss a 1st in the 1:1:1 class and 2nd with his Beetroot.