Page 32 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2023

32 Simply Vegetables
NVS Awards 2023
In July, the NVS’s Award review
board sat to review this year’s award nominations. We are delighted
to advise that a quantity of eight Fellowships, eleven Silver medals and two Gold medals have been awarded to acknowledge the contributions and support given by these people.
Here is a short summary of each award recipient to give you an insight into a few areas of their most appreciated contributions to the NVS.
FELLOWSHIPS
Cath Holmes
Cath joined the NVS in 2013 and has been a member of the Northern Branch since 2018, Cath has also been the Secretary of the Lancashire D.A. since 2016 and was voted on as their D.A. Chair in 2020. Instrumental in setting up both the Branch and DA’s Facebook pages. Cath has been the team leader for setting up the gold medal winning D.A. veg displays at Chorley and Southport and is a regular contributor to the SV Magazine.
James Park
James joined the NVS in 2009 and became a member of the Westmorland
& North Lancashire D.A. in 2011 and became D.A. Chair in 2018. James joined the Northern Branch Committee in 2014 and has been one of the Northern Branch Show Managers since 2019. James passed his judges exam in 2016 and judges regularly at local shows. James
is also a regular contributor of plants
for plant sales to help raise funds and supports the various events and display stands.
Judith Park
Judith joined the NVS in 2018 and immediately became the Northern Branch Membership Secretary, a role which she fulfils with great accuracy and timeliness, including learning and taking on the use of the new membership system. Judith
is also an active committee member of the Westmorland and Lancashire D.A. helping out at numerous events and coffee mornings to help raise funds.
Robert Heigham
Robert joined the NVS in 2007 and is a Midland Branch member. Robert passed his judges exam in 2015 and has judged at many local shows, judged two branch Championships and also at one National Championship to date. Robert is the Chair of Tibberton District Horticultural Society (an NVS affiliated society) and he flies the flag for the NVS at every occasion.
David Lownds
David joined the NVS in 1990 and has been showing veg for over 50 years. David passed his judges exam in 2016 and judges at local level for approximately 10 shows per year plus numerous allotments (hundreds) and school shows. David is actively involved with the Leek & District Show and also now runs his own show called “The Moorlands Top Ten” alongside the Leek & District show under NVS rules. David does regular work with the local schools and has done for over
15 years, including hands on evenings, school shows and competitions.
Ian Archibald
Ian joined the NVS back in 1985 and quickly became an enthusiastic Scottish Branch Committee member in 1987 and still is over 36 years later. Ian qualified as a judge in 2008 and judges at local level from the borders to the Lothians plus has judged at Branch level. Ian is a regular supporter of the Scottish branch Display stands (Gardening Scotland and the Scone Palace Garden Fair) promoting the NVS and manning the stands. Ian is also a regular supporter of the Scottish Branch annual Seminar, from making up rolls to canteen support on the day.
Jim Veitch
Jim Veitch joined the NVS in 1982
as a member of the Scottish Branch. Jim passed his judges exam in 1995 and regularly judges at local level (approximately 10 shows per year (from Dundee to Glasgow and Kelso) Jim has also judged at Branch level twice and at the National Championships in Dundee. Jim has grown plants for many years
to support various display stands. He mentors inexperienced growers and visits their gardens to help and encourage them and he regularly gives away plants and seeds to help. Jim sponsors at least 5 shows every year and likes to also focus on the lower point classes to encourage newer growers. Jim became a Scottish branch Committee member in 2022, albeit has been supporting the committee for many years prior.
Cecil Townsend
Cecil Joined the NVS in 2004 and is a member of the Welsh Branch. Cecil has been a Welsh Branch Committee member for as long as anyone can remember and is their top fund raiser and raffle ticket seller and is a valuable asset to the Welsh branch. A regular contributor of veg
for the Royal Welsh Show and always attends and supports the Welsh Branch Display for the whole event, every day giving his advice to the public.
SILVER MEDALS
Jim Robinson
Jim joined the NVS in 1990 and was a founder member of the Westmorland
and Lancashire D.A., became Secretary in 2004 and also became Treasurer in 2016. Jim became a Northern Branch Committee member in 2005, stewarded regularly at shows and also became Show Manager in 2015. Jim lectures in Cumbria and Lancashire and has also lectured at Medwyn’s Masterclass. Jim passed his judges exam in 2009 and regularly judges at both local shows
and larger regional shows, such as Southport. Jim helps out at many events and displays, providing veg and giving his experience and advice to the public.
John Goodall
John joined the NVS in the 1980’s, as
part of the Northern Branch and was a Northern Branch Committee member for several years. John became a member
of the North-East Derbyshire D.A. in 1992 and has been their Chair since 2012. John gives talks at local gardening clubs and although never sat his judge’s exam, has
FIONA SHENFIELD FNVS