Page 33 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2023

judged regularly at local allotments and gardening clubs with his wide knowledge and experience. John is also Chair of his local gardening club in South Normanton and regularly grows veg for displays for Bakewell and County Shows plus for plant sales to support D.A funds. John has given over 30 years’ service and shared his vast knowledge of veg growing ...and always with that well known smile.
Mick Shipley
Mick joined the NVS in 2004 and has been a Northern branch Committee member for several years, currently holding the post of Minute Secretary
and also updates the NVS website with news and events for the Northern branch. Mick joined the North-East Derbyshire D.A. in 2001 and currently holds the
post of Show Secretary. Mick is also a regular contributor for the SV Magazine. Mick passed his judges exam in 2015 and has judged regularly throughout Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire as well as Harrogate and Newby Hall for the North of England Horticultural Society and Northern Branch Championships plus has Stewarded at the National Championships. Mick shares his knowledge of growing and promotes the NVS giving talks at local gardening clubs, having run local roadshows and manning various display stands.
Martyn Strange
Martyn joined the NVS in 1994 and became a Midland Branch Committee member in 1996 to present day. During this time Martyn has held the post of Vice Chair and reserve trustee rep, attending some meetings. Martyn passed his judges exam in 2002, judging regularly at local level and providing guidance to local shows regarding their Show Schedules. Martin shares his knowledge and experience by having manned numerous stands throughout the years, including the Malvern Spring Show. Martyn also helps out by growing veg for the various displays. Martyn, together with the late Bill Thornton, staged a stand promoting the NVS for many years at what was
then the Dundry Potato Weekend, near Cheltenham.
Neil Muirhead
Neil joined the NVS in 2011 and became a Scottish Branch committee member.
In 2012, Neil took on the role of Show Secretary which was ratified in 2013
and has run every Branch Champs (and National when hosted in Scotland) ever since. Neil passed his judges exam in 2014 and has since been judging at a local level on a regular basis throughout Fife. Neil has given many lectures supporting the Scottish Branch DA’s, including talks on leeks, tomatoes and cucumbers and on how he grew in a small garden at the Scottish Branch Seminar. Neil regularly supports the Scottish Branch Annual Gardening Scotland event and is part of the “Leek sales” team as well as providing guidance to the public on veg growing at every opportunity. From 2013 to 2016, Neil was a Trustee Rep and in 2014 Neil headed up the Strategic working Group.
Ian Simpson
Ian joined the NVS in 1992 and became
a Scottish Branch Committee member in 2011. Ian has hosted two annual garden visits to help share his growing methods and techniques in addition to welcoming many individual visitors to learn and exchange growing methods and ideas. Ian has also written a growing booklet on stump carrots for the Scottish Branch. Ian has been conducting lectures since 2009, initially at the Scottish Branch Seminar. He has given talks at Medwyn’s Master Class twice. Ian has travelled throughout Scotland giving talks to the D.A.’s and also throughout the Country, including Cumbria, Causey, Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire, Aylesbury and Ribchester
as well as an NVS Zoom talk. Ian also gives local talks in Fife to encourage new growers and ran a potato growing project at his local primary school. Ian has been a Trustee Rep since 2016 and has been active in helping out on many projects including completion of the updated judges guide in 2018 and completion
of 20 growing leaflets for the NVS web site on general veg growing throughout 2021, 22 and 23 with input from various growers.
Jean Thomson
Jean joined the NVS in 2003 and became a Scottish Branch Committee member
in 2010. Jean was Scottish branch Membership Secretary from 2012 to 2016 and continues to help out every year with membership renewals at the Scottish Branch Seminar. Jean also supported the Trustees in reviewing the new electronic membership system which is now in use. Jean passed her judges exam in 2012 and has judged several local shows in her area of Aberdeenshire and has also judged at the RHS of Aberdeen show and the Dundee show plus judged at
the Scottish Branch Championships this year. When not judging, Jean regularly takes on the role of Steward and has served in this role at the Scottish Branch Championships on many occasions. Jean has been an active committee member
of the Grampian D.A. since she joined the society in2003 and she supports the D.A. by assisting with the administration and running of local activities, implementing fundraising ideas, such as quiz sheets, and generally being an NVS presence
at local shows and events, promoting
the society and membership. Jean took on the role of steward at the DA show in 2019 and has devised a system so that winning entries can be quickly recorded and then converted to total points,
prize money and trophy winners. Jean prepares and distributes information sheets for the public and supports the DA displays, promotes growing and showing of vegetables in the Aberdeenshire area, Grampian and North East of Scotland and encourages people without a garden or allotment to grow vegetables in containers using the DA slogan of “if you haven’t got a plot, you can grow it in a pot”.
Andrew Jones
Andrew joined the NVS in 1991 and is a long-standing Welsh Branch Committee member. A top grower and exhibitor, Andrew provides and quietly shares
his knowledge of growing vegetables
to anyone who asks. He is an excellent ambassador for the Branch. Andrew passed his judges exam in 2008 and judges regularly at local and branch level
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