Page 41 - ALG Issue 4 2017

Not quite allotments but still horticulture
I recently received an invitation from a local Horticultural Charity called Horticap at Bluecoat Wood Nursery, Harrogate, which caters for people with learning dif culties. I felt very thrilled and honoured to be asked to attend the BBQ and Awards Evening and to present some of the awards in my new role of President of the NAS. Their larger than life (see later) Assistant Manager, Phil Airey and I have become quite good friends over the years, both manning stands at the large and prestigious Flower and Agricultural Shows at Harrogate and have become commonly known as Big Phil and Little Phil.
I know many of the students from their involvement in the shows and from calling in to the nursery whenever I am passing. It is a wonderful positive place to visit.
The Lady Mayor of Harrogate was
in attendance to present the in-house certi cates which are awarded for all types
of work carried out - potting plants, making hanging baskets and wreaths, work in the café and shop and many more on-site jobs. Certi cates were also presented for the many tasks students do in their contract works carried out off-site.
I felt very honoured to be presenting NVQ certi cates in horticulture to some of the students, who had gained them through the local Shipley College. This was the rst year they had acquired external quali cations.
Finally I was to present the Alan Titchmarsh (the Charity’s Patron) ‘Award of Distinction’ to David Rawcliffe for his long and outstanding service looking after the gardens at Bluecoat Wood Nursery.
What a wonderful evening, what a wonderful atmosphere and what a surprise for Phil Airey; his students had only got together and presented him with a certi cate ‘The Larger than Life Award’. It just demonstrated what a wonderful relationship
Lady Mayor of Harrogate, David Rawcliffe, Phil Gomersall
Phil Gomersall presenting Alan Titchmarsh ‘Horticultural Award of Distinction’ to David Rawcliffe
there is between staff and students.
The evening came to a close with a group
photo set up by the photographer for the Harrogate Press.
Phil Gomersall, President
Group
Phil Airey with his ‘Larger than Life’ certi cate
Presidential Roles
I was asked if I would stand in and judge some allotment plots at Bracken Hill Allotments Association, Ackworth, South Yorkshire.
I set my sat nav and set off from home
at 8.30am in absolutely torrential rain and thought “oh dear this isn’t going to be much fun”. Fortunately, an hour later when I arrived, the rain had stopped.
The Association treasurer greeted me at the gate and led me into the site where a magni cent communal building met my
Magni cent communal building
Bev, site secretary
Plot 03 a lovely plot
eyes as I parked; it was obvious a lot of dedicated hard work had gone into constructing it. The secretary of the site also arrived shortly after and knew who had come to judge as she had spotted my bowler hat in my van.
First things rst, I was offered a cup of tea; I was ready for that and it was ‘reet’ grand. A quick tour around the site followed to help me to get my bearings.
It turned out to be a really hot day and it took ages to judge all the plots on my list as I was criteria marking, but eventually it was complete.
Another cup of tea followed as I left a list of winning plots. Then home again. That evening I made up the complete listing of marks with comments where appropriate on my computer and emailed it off.
I must again thank the Association Of cers for their hospitality. I was made extremely welcome.
Well that was Saturday taken care of; now I really must get to my plot tomorrow.
Phil Gomersall
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