Page 64 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2024

Welsh Branch
The cold snap that gripped us from Christmas time to the 3rd week of January seems to be over, and that’s where we are now as I write these notes. Well, l know those few weeks were nowhere near as cold as we used to have in my youth, but the way that it’s been these last few years regarding the cost of gas and electricity, thank goodness for that.
I still haven’t got any positive news regarding the venue and date of our branch championships; this is something we are working on as our top priority. As soon as we have any news, we’ll convey it to you via the society’s website and Facebook pages.
We’ve had an invitation to attend an open day at the Pencoed Campus of Bridgend College on Saturday 8th June, which we have accepted, I look forward
to meeting as many of you as possible.
I worked at what was then Pencoed Horticultural College for 20 years, up to
my retirement. It will be good to go back and see some of my old colleagues and maybe some NVS members and anyone interested in growing their own vegetables.
Arrangements for the Royal Welsh show’s horticultural section seem to be going on. Hopefully we will be able to participate again this year. This will be Monday 22nd to Thursday 25th July. There will be a vegetable section with a few less classes but some new classes too. This show is a big event in Wales with daily TV programmes on the show. Considering we are a country of only 3 million people, an attendance of 50,000 at the show is quite remarkable really.
Our next committee meeting will be held on Saturday 23rd March at 11am followed by our AGM after lunch. The venue is the Lamb & Flag Rhyader.
More than a decade ago, Roy Tudor brought me a plant of chilli pepper that he had grown from seed saved from “Prairie Fire”. The chilli fruits were a little bigger than its parent but with the same compact growing habit. I have selected it ever since and now Medwyn has it for sale under
the name of “Tudors Fire” as a tribute to Roy. I have sponsored a class for a plant
in no more than a 3-litre pot at our branch championships.
On a personal note, My Onions and Leeks look pretty good and I’m hopeful of getting to the shows with them later this year. It will soon be time to sow some early vegetables to grow in my polytunnel. I have a garden at almost 800ft above sea level, so a polytunnel gives me my first crops.
Ivor Mace
64 Simply Vegetables
Irish Section
OBITUARY
HAROLD LAWLOR 1924-2024
The National Vegetable Society Ireland is sad to announce that our Hon. President Harold Lawlor passed away on December 19th in
his 101st year. Harold was awarded a silver medal from the National Vegetable Society in 2023 in recognition of his services to the society and for his dedication to the advancement of growing quality vegetables in Ireland.
Harold was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word and will be sadly missed by all his NVS colleagues. Our condolences to his daughters Dorothy, Cindy, Elaine, Karen and Jemma, his sons Harold, Oliver, Martin, Ron and Anthony, his sister-in-law Phyl, sons in law, daughters in law, his 31 grandchildren and his 47 great-grandchildren, his niece, nephew and a large circle of friends and neighbours.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
(May he rest in peace)
MEMBERS 40000 TO 49999
RAYMOND HIGGINS FNVS, NVS IRELAND CHAIR