Current and past President at Logan 2010
Flower Show Prizewinners 2010
Since its formation sixty years ago, Busby & Clarkston Horticultural Society has faithfully kept a written record of all its meetings. Through the dedication of the Society’s Secretaries it is possible to look back and remember times past.
Sometimes the information makes us wonder what happened: for example to the National Rose Society’s Annuals 1935 to 1947, which were presented to us and placed in the custody of the Duff Memorial Library, where members could borrow them by presenting their membership card. Perhaps they’re still there!
Sometimes the information makes us remember: did you know that the Society has appeared three times on BBC Radio gardening programmes – 1956 and 1969 on Garden Forum and in 1973 Gardeners’ Question Time. More recently of course we have featured on both Gardeners’ Question Time and Radio Scotland’s Beechgrove ‘Potting Shed’ in November 2004.
And sometimes the information makes us think: “good grief was he/she around away back then?” For example, Peter Leitch, twice President, thirty years apart. In 1960 it was proposed that the flowers and vegetables be auctioned at the close of the Show. This was objected to at Committee, but overturned some five years later and right up to 2006, Peter has been our auctioneer. We gave Peter a special presentation in August 2007 for 50 years service. Unfortunately, Peter is no longer with us, but he lives on in all our memories.
Murdoch Hodge’s name first appears in 1968 and in 1977 he took office as Show Secretary, a position he has held to this day (sorry to remind you Murdoch). In 1973 he was largely responsible for revising and updating the Show Schedule to its present day format, doing away with the Amateur and Open Sections.
Hamish Orr, our long serving President in the 70’s and 80’s is still active on the Committee today, as are quite a few other members. It seems to be a life sentence, but I’m sure each and every one of them still enjoys their involvement in what we like to think of as a friendly, informative Society.
Social outings, trophy winners, constitutional changes and local history are all recorded in our minutes. Did you know that in the 1950’s the Society took block bookings of 200 seats for Theatre Royal Pantomimes or indeed hired two double-decker buses (73 seaters) for their Annual Summer trips?
Memories indeed – long may they continue...