Page 56 - Simply Veg 1 2024

David Lownds
From an early age, working at Hayes farm Warslow, we used to grow potatoes, swedes cabbage and oats, this we did for a few years until farming polices changed.
Several years later, selling farm machinery, I was working at Ipstones Agricultural Show when I spotted a farmer friend of mine - Sam Bennison of Ipstones. Sam was going into the old Horticultural building with three cabbages. I went into the entrance door and watched Sam stage them. With his Wellington’s turned down and, on his knees, he rolled them round, and after about ten minutes put the entry cards on them, stood back and hoped nobody would breath on them.
Shortly the door was closed for judging and, after about what seemed like
two hours, I saw Sam waiting outside scratching his head and kicking the wall bottom, when he saw me watching him.
As the door opened, he was in like a flash and when I got to him he was arranging the red card on his best cabbage! After he relaxed. Sam said to me “David, I have seen you watching me, so call on me the last week in March and l will have something for you”. As the end of March approached,
I went to Sam’s and he said “David follow me”. We went round to his garden and
in the shed, wrapped up in an old Radio Times, were a few cabbage plants. “Now”, he said “I want you to grow them and show the best one at our show this August”. I
couldn’t get home fast enough to prepare my bed and plant these small plants!
After a struggle during the summer,
I eventually had one ready for Ipstones Show. Sam came 1st and I came 4th. The year after I came 2nd to Sam and the following year, I came 1st and Sam 2nd. After the show finished Sam came striding across to me and said, “well done David” and shook me by the hand. He said, “now
I want you to carry on and show wherever you can”. Since then, I’ve showed all over Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire plus many NVS shows.
A few years ago, I showed on the televised village show at Calke Abbey. During the Corona virus I entered an all- British Isles zoom show and came fourth with beetroot.
On an estimated count over the years,’ I’ve won over 2,600 class cards plus cups, shields, and certificates. Many years ago, I took my National Vegetable Society judging exam. This was written exam down at Rydar, near Builth Wells in Wales, together with hands on plus pests and diseases at Headingly in Leeds.
Since then I’ve judged many NVS shows, school shows, allotments all
over Leek and Stoke on Trent and also
at Malvern Show. Today I am on the committee of Leek Allotment Holders & Gardeners Association, Leek Agricultural show, in charge of the horticulture section, The Moorlands Top Ten Charity Show
with my colleagues and friends Suzanne Sheldon, John Hodgkinson, Sara Lipp, and Val Salt.
Finally, after judging at Malvern this year, l was presented with a Fellowship Award by Medwyn Williams President of the National Vegetable Society.
I would like to extend thanks to my many friends who have worked with me over the years and who have congratulated me on receiving my Fellowship Award.
Bucks DA
The Bucks DA were invited to have our usual stand at the Bucks County Show on Thursday 31st August. We had many visitors to the stand including June and Mike Davies.
All the red cards on the show benches were awarded to Bucks DA members. Our first talk after the summer break was on Tuesday 17th October held at usual venue in Wingrave. The week before David Thornton informed us that he was unable to do the talk, so John Branham stepped in and did a talk entitled “Vegetables from my garden today” John talk was enjoyed
by over 60 people, many of them non NVS members, who
said they will come to future talks, and a few took away NVS membership forms. After the talk John put some of the veg in a box which was added to the raffle prizes. The raffle made over £200.
The Wingrave hall has been booked for our usual 4 talks next year, with David Thornton to do the first talk on Tuesday February 20th entitled “Fertilizers for the Kitchen Garden”.
56 Simply Vegetables
David Lownds receiving his fellowship award from Medwyn Williams, President of the NVS