CHAPTER
4
REBIRTH OF THE SOCIETY IN 1934
Over 20 years elapsed before a Flower Show was again held
in West Kilbride. In 1934 there was a Public Meeting on 5th.
March to consider the formation of a Horticultural Society.
There was agreement that, instead of starting from scratch,
the former Society should be re-established and should adopt
the Constitution of the old governing body. The following
persons were elected to form the nucleus of the Society:
-
Hon. President General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston
President R.McLeod, Overton (declined and later replaced
by R.Prosser, Springside Nursery)
Vice-President J.H.Gemmell, Dunvegan
Hon. Treasurer Dewar Paton
Secretary and Treasurer John Cowan
Collector E. Cowan
Auditor C.B.Ramsay, Royal Bank
Committee * A.Currie, Ritchie Street
* J.Lockhart, Hunterston Road
* A.McLean. 128 Main St.
J.McKellar, 70 Gateside Street
W.Martindale, Orchard Street
R.McLaughlin
Hugh Miller, Happyhills
M.Meaney, Cubrieshaw Lodge
P.M.Jack. Hillarton
J. Cowan, 27 Well Street
A. Duncan. Merlewood Road.
J. Barr, Overton Drive
J. Meikle, Merlewood Road
A. Menzies, Co-op. Home
R. Guy, Ritchie Street
R. Prosser, Springside Nursery
M. Stevenson, 119 Main Street
and added by later co-option
* Orchard Currie, Meadowfoot Road
* Geo. Houston, Gateside Street
* Thos. Wilson
* Alex. Gemmell
* Thos. McNaught
(* indicates member of previous Committee)
During and after the 1914 - 1918 Great War there had been
a substantial number of allotments established in West Kilbride,
mostly on land forming part of the former Parish Church Glebe
(now occupied by the Post Office, Telephone Exchange and
Glenside houses). Users of these had formed a Plotholders
Association and this was now affiliated to the Horticultural
Society, with Messrs M.Meaney and M.Stevenston as representatives
on the Committee.
The new Committee sprang into immediate action, and held
four meetings before mid-April, making the following decisions:-
Date of 1934 Flower Show Friday 24th. August, 2 - 9 p.m.
Membership Subscription 2/6
Patron's Subscription 10/- minimum
Collector's remuneration £2/10/- minimum rising to
10% of the whole if results justified.
Schedule sub-committee 7 from General Committee
Finance subcommittee 2 from General Committee Show Opener
Lady Hunter-Weston
Presenter of Bouquet Betty Gemmell
Schedule 300 printed,with entry form
and prize claim form Schedule printing £5/9/0 from
J. Dunlop
Vases to be hired (source unknown)
Judges D. Sands. Lochgreen, Troon
G. Cowan, Newfield, Johnstone - Beckett, Prestwick
T. Ritchie, Skelmorlie
- . Ferguson, W.Kilbride (Baking) Refreshments Judges to
be provided with breakfast and lunch
Prizes and Trophies Daily Record Medal for most meritorious
exhibit
Honey Prize, presented by Mr. Lawson
Silver Cup presented by Mr. McLeod, Overton, for best kept
garden. (Committee to request change in award basis) Silver
Rose Bowl by anonymous donor. Committee to decide on award
basis.
Music
To be provided by G. Wilson, Braeside.
3 afternoon + 5 evening sessions
total cost £2/-/-
Admission Charge
1.30 to 3.30 pm - 1/-
3.30 to 9 pm - 6d
Children, 5 to 6 pm- 1d Staging Plan prepared by Mr. Gemmell
The first show by the reborn Society in 1934
In spite of the very short time between
the re-formation of the Society in March and the holding
of its first Show
on 24th. August, the event was highly successful, with over
500 entries. There were displays of flowers, fruit and vegetables
by S.C.W.S Springside Nurseries, A. Currie & Sons., and
J. Lockhart & Son., and of garden tools and ironmongery
by Todd. Bros. The Class Sections were - Cut flowers, Pot
plants, Fruit, Vegetables, Honey, Allotment Holders Section
(Vegetables), Industrial Section (Baking and preserves).
Winners of Special Prizes were -
Overton Challenge Cup for most points in show won by exhibits
grown by competitor - W. McDale
"
Daily Record" Medal for most meritorious exhibit in
show - J. Cowan
Special for best exhibit of cut flowers - J. Cowan
Special for best exhibit of vegetable - W. McDale
Special for most points in plain baking - Miss R. McDale
The President noted that all efforts had been worth-while
and the result spoke for itself in every direction. Financially
the show was a success too with a balance in the bank of £38.
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