Page 53 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2025

One of the AutoPot raffle prizes Audience chatting and getting settled for the day
charge on raffle ticket sales along with Alan
Yates.
Lunchtime over and we were in for
another treat in the form of Simon Smith
who gave a very informative talk on growing
cucumbers and tomatoes which was most
appreciated. Originally Simon had planned
to drive up on the morning of the Seminar,
so Frank Taylor had asked Simon if he’d like
to go on later in the day after Jim Pearson.
Simon replied colourfully saying “even Billy
Connolly wouldn’t want to go on after Jim
Pearson” and just to make sure, he travelled
up the night before from Loughborough
with his wife, Leesa.
After Simon’s presentation, Jim Pearson
gave a very entertaining and informative
talk on how he grows for the Millenium
class. A lot of good encouraging information
along with hoots of laughter rounded off
the day’s talks successfully. For those
who attended, we remember fondly King
Charles’s feedback on Jim Pearson’s
exhibits not doing so well this year, Onion
Johny’s feedback on the Scottish Climate
and quotes like “my plant’s all deed (died)”.
(Only hitch we had was a lap top issue, so
we unfortunately lost a few of Jim’s slides to
complement his talk - sorry about that - we
already have plan B backup sorted out for
this year).
Time for afternoon tea and another visit
around the trade stands before we all
eagerly awaited the renowned Scottish
Branch Raffle with so many great prize
donations from our members, hampers and
a generous voucher from David Thornton
of Select Seeds. Thanks everyone. This was
followed by the special “free raffle” for all the
Shogun and Mills nutrients starter packs
and finally the star raffle prizes of AutoPot
systems and Maxibright lighting systems.
What a great day, it always seems to go
so fast, but a great atmosphere and some
lovely feedback from a lot of our members
afterwards. Our speakers are all greatly
appreciated - and most were able to stay
for an enjoyable meal afterwards. Thanks
to all who brought plants, seeds and seed
potatoes for the sought after sales table,
including folk like Scottish Branch member
Tony Cuthbert who gave me leek plants
at Kelso to take up for the sales table, as
he was unable to attend. All these things
make it a special day. Thanks again go to
Gavin Thomson and the Commercial teams
who help make these days so special, to
all our committee members who get on so
well and just go and do their thing to make
it all happen and to Eric from the Aytoun
Hall who helps us out throughout the year
with our committee meetings, setting up
the day before the seminar and looking
after us through the day. Lastly, thanks to
everyone who comes along on the day,
see you on November 15th this year for the
next one! And many congratulations to the
Welsh Branch for setting up their inaugural
Seminar on March 22nd, we are sure you
will have a great day.
Scottish Branch
Championships
2025
We are delighted to announce
that the 2025 Scottish Branch
Championships will take place
on Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th
September at Dobbies Garden
Centre, Whimbrell Place, Fife
Leisure Park, Dunfermline, KY11
8EX.
Staging times are still to be
finalised but are tentatively Fri
2.00pm to 10.00pm, and also Sat
7.00am to 9.00am.
The last time we hosted the
championships at this great venue
was back in 2014, so we are very
much looking forward to it. Just
off the M90 on the outskirts of
Dunfermline, The Fife Leisure
Park has a number of eating
establishments, Odeon cinema
and a Premier Inn.
We can also announce that we
will have a new class for 2025
which is Small Fruited Tomatoes,
qty 9. This is a popular class at
a number of other shows, so we
look forward to seeing plenty of
exhibits on the show bench.
Scottish Branch – 200 Club
It’s that time at the start of the year when
all Scottish Branch members will have
received a 200-club form within this
Winter edition magazine for 2025, but
you do not have to be a Scottish Branch
member (or even an NVS member) to
join, so please encourage friends and
family too.
The cost for one 200 Club membership is
£5 which covers the full 10 months of prize
draws. This works out at a cost of only 50p
per month!
Thank you to all members who have
submitted a Scottish Branch 200 club
form, your support makes a big difference.
The 2025 prize draws ran from March to
Dec and below are the final draw results
from 2024 at time of writing this report,
congratulations.
The prize draw is taken at the end of
each month, so make sure you send in
your forms for 2025 or print an extra form
or two from the web site where you can
find a PDF copy in the “Resources” section
of the NVS web site to enable you to print
one out.
Alternatively please contact Bill Duff ,1B
Smithy Road, Balmullo, St. Andrews, Fife
First Prize Francis McGorry Month KY16 0BG Tel 01334 870787, or email duff.
william@sky.com
Prize money is dependent on how
many 200 Club members we have with
half the revenue generated going towards
the Scottish Branch funds and half going
towards the 200 club prize money. The
more tickets you buy, the higher the prize
fund.
Thanks again for your support, it really
makes a difference.
Second Prize
October Norman McBean
November James Burns Jacqueline Cameron
December Fred Stewart John Currie
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