Committee Meetings

The Committee meet regularly to discuss the everyday running of the Society.
If members have any suggestions or items they wish to bring to the attention of the Committee please contact the Secretary. Our next Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday 24th April 2012.

Annual General Meeting

Our next Annual General Meeting will be held in April 2013 at 7.30pm in the Church Hall, Bear Street, Nayland.

The agenda and other papers will be distributed to all members prior to the AGM.

(which will not be adopted until the AGM in April 2013)

Present
Colin Ramsell, Trevor Smy, Lorraine Brooks, Hazel Gardiner, Olive Noakes, Anne Spencer, Winnie Marshall, Vicky Touhey, Sandra Gibbons, Shirley Whitnell, Vivien Henderson, Peggy Shreeve, Penny Allen, Pauline Horrell, Jean Evans, Tom Gardiner, Jackie Grant, Ann Channon, John Jervios, Denise Drury, Barry & Elizabeth Wakefield, Mick & Sylvia Bond, Daphne Berry, Frances Bates, Patricia & Les Sidaway, Sally Bartrum and Liz Thorne.

Apologies for absence
Sheila Sessions, Wendy Sparrow, Margaret Smy, Mike & Chris Hunter, Ken Willingale, Tom Gibbons, Joan Moore,  Robert & Joy Jones, Roy Evans, Mona Gaunt, Richard Cave, Bryan & Jenny Smith and Ray Spencer.

AGM Agenda 2012

Minutes of AGM 2011

Accounts for year ending
December 2011

Secretary's Report 2012

Chairman’s Report
Chairman Trevor Smy welcomed 30 members who were present.

He said it had been a good year for HortSoc and its enthusiastic committee.  Trevor thanked Ken Willingale for checking the accounts, Pat Bray for spreading our news in the local press and the judges for their expertise at our shows. Hortsoc are very appreciative of Andrew and Sue Gowen for kindly hosting the summer garden evening at Parkers.  He expressed thanks to members who are not on the committee but offer invaluable help with various tasks during the year.  Last but certainly not least he thanked all our members for their support in making our activities successful and enjoyable.

On a sad note Trevor said that Roland Horrell had died recently.  Roland had been unable to get out for some time due to being unwell but his wife, Pauline, had been on the committee and is a great supporter of HortSoc.

Acceptance of Minutes  
The minutes of the 2011 AGM had been circulated prior to the meeting and there were no matters arising.  Elizabeth Wakefield proposed, and Hazel Gardiner seconded acceptance of the minutes, which were approved by those present.

Treasurer's report  
The statement of accounts was circulated. Sylvia Bond thanked members very much for their support and donations for fundraising activities which had all been very successful.  There were no matters arising.  Barrie Wakefield proposed, and John Jervois seconded acceptance of the statement of accounts, which were approved by those present.

Secretary's report 
The report had been circulated prior to the meeting.  There were no matters arising.

Another year has passed extremely quickly and looking back it proved once again to be bountiful for HortSoc.  The committee excelled themselves with the introduction of new ventures which were supported so well by members and friends.  Spurred on by this enthusiasm another season brimming with activity is planned, but first I will recap on the 2011 season.

You may have noticed that HortSoc came out of hibernation a month earlier than previously, in March.  It was not a sign of global warming but the fact that we have a keen and hard working committee who felt we should start the year by having a spring speaker.  The talk on Photography tied in nicely with the parish calendar competition and proved popular. The weather will always throw up challenges for our shows but it was on our side for the Spring Flower Show.  On the day we were delighted by the number of entries on display.  

Our second annual coach outing to Merriments Gardens and Great Dixter House and Garden was very popular and both venues had lovely features and interesting planting schemes.  The minibus outing to Helmingham Hall Gardens and Autumn Plant Fair also proved popular and there was something there for everyone.

The weather was kind for our 30th Anniversary Summer Party held by kind invitation of Andrew and Sue Gowen in July.  After an interesting guided tour round their lovely garden at Parker’s we thoroughly enjoyed an evening of delicious food, good company and a fun ‘who are they now’ photo quiz.  There was a display of the Society’s history and an archive book which brought back fond memories.

It was wonderful to see a good number of new exhibitors entering the Flower Show on 6th August.  This year we awarded for the first time the RHS Banksian Medal for the highest number of points for horticultural exhibits.  As well as some new classes there were two new competitions; for the best hanging basket and the best scarecrow which was very amusing.  The trophies, including those for the best-kept allotments, were presented by Terry Bannister. 

Our autumn speaker, Matthew Tanton Brown, delivered a very interesting illustrated talk on Vegetable Growing.  In November it was our turn to host the joint meeting with the Conservation Society.  Shirley Boyle, from the RSPB gave a revealing insight into Homes for Wildlife and the RSPB Wildlife Garden at Flatford.

Our two main fund-raising events in 2011, our stall at the Christmas Fayre and most particularly the Morning Market proved profitable.  Many thanks to everyone who came along and made purchases and of course to the committee, our members and other helpers who gave their time and items for sale or as prizes.
HortSoc’s website, www.naylandhortsoc.org.uk has been enormously helpful for promoting the Society and enabling wider distribution of information and schedules.  The pleasing news that membership has risen from 70- something to over 120 is partly due to increased awareness. 

The committee have been active during the winter finalising the schedule for 2012 which keeps up the busy momentum.  This year’s activities began on 20th March when the Church Hall was packed to capacity for Terry Illsley’s interesting illustrated talk on The Victorian Garden: the golden age of gardening. The Spring Flower Show  on Saturday 24th March proved a great success with 70 entries providing a lovely display which was enjoyed by visitors.

The Morning Market will take place on Saturday 26th May.  Donations for the raffle and items for sale, particularly plants, cake or books, would be much appreciated.  These can be brought along to the Church Hall early on the morning of the Market, alternatively they can be left beforehand with a committee member.

To celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee an exhibition of 1950’s memorabilia and artefacts with floral displays is being planned and will be held in St James Church from 2nd to 5th June.

Following the success of previous coach outings we will be going to East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens and Blacksmith’s Cottage Nursery Garden on 13th June.  We are very grateful that Andrew and Sue Gowen have kindly invited us back to Parker’s for our Summer Garden Party on 13th July. 

The summer Flower Show on 4th August will include a few new classes including; sweet peas (vase), collection of fruit (3 or more varieties), and the longest runner bean.  The competitions for the best scarecrow and thebest hanging basket will be held again and judged during weeks prior to the show.

Other events planned include a minibus visit to RHS Hyde Hall Garden and Ingatestone Hall and Garden on 16th September and on 16th October our autumn speaker, Matthew Tanton Brown, will give a talk on The Amateur Glasshouse: its structure and its uses.  This year it is the Conservation Society’s turn to host the Joint Meeting on 6th November when Neil Catchpole, Landscape & Biodiversity Officer of Dedham Vale AONB Stour Valley Project will be talking about 'Trees and the Stour Valley'.  We hope to have our usual stall at the Community Council’s Christmas Fayre which has moved to a Sunday and will be held on 2nd December.

Our begging bowl will be waiting to be filled by contributions; raffle prizes, produce, cakes, books, plants, seasonal items, etc for our two fund-raising events.  The committee are always very grateful for volunteers to help out, manning the stalls, etc. 

The Secretary took this opportunity to thank the committee, members and other helpers for their dedication over the past year in maintaining the smooth running of the Society and looks forward to another fruitful HortSoc year.

Election of Committee and Officers
Tom Gardiner kindly chaired the election of officers and committee members. He thanked the committee for their achievements and doing a marvellous job organising the Society – which received a round of applause!

All officers and committee have agreed to continue.  Officers and Committee were unanimously voted as follows:  chairman, Trevor Smy (proposed Jackie Grant, seconded Winnie Marshall); secretary, Lorraine Brooks (proposed John Jervois, seconded Sandra Gibbons); treasurer, Sylvia Bond (proposed Jean Evans, seconded Elizabeth Wakefield) committee: Anne Spencer, Hazel Gardiner, Olive Noakes and Colin Ramsell (proposed en bloc Pauline Horrell, seconded Mick Bond).

Taking the chair, Trevor expressed his thanks to Tom for chairing the elections.  He also thanked the committee and secretary for their hard work and support in 2011 and in anticipation for the coming year.

Future Events & Membership
Trevor said any ideas for future events, outings and speakers would be welcome.

Any Other Business
A note of thanks had been received from Ken Willingale for the memorial tree and plaque dedicated to Olive Willingale, Secretary and President of the Society 1980-2011.  He added that Olive had been very proud that HortSoc was continuing and going from strength to strength.

A visit by car to the RSPB’s Wildlife Garden at Flatford is being planned for 11th May.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8pm. 

After refreshments, Lorraine Brooks conducted a very light-hearted quiz and winners of the draw were revealed.