CHAPTER
7
THE NEXT TEN YEARS, 1955 - 1964
For this period of ten years no Minute Book information
is available. Press coverage in the Ardrossan and Saltcoats
Herald, however, is quite comprehensive and adding to this
financial data from Society Cash Books, odds and ends of
data and personal recollections, a reasonable account of
what transpired in the horticultural Scene in West Kilbride
can be assembled; unfortunately there is a lack of data
on the Society's administration and general activities.
The previous eight years had seen a consolidation of activities
following the successfully resumed show in 1947, together
with the instigation of a spring Show in 1953. Over the
next period the two annual shows were naturally the core
of the Society's business, the spring show held in the
School becoming increasingly a children's event with enlarged
classes and scope for creative ideas. The Summer Show in
the Public Hall continued to grow in popularity and scope,
with an increasing emphasis on amateur competitors as the
role of the professional gardener in private estate operation
diminished.
Summer Shows 1955 - 1965
Timing continued to be a Friday towards the end of August,
in the Public Hall, and reports over the ten year period
indicate a continuing, apparently unstoppable rise in
the popularity of the Show and the interest shown by
both exhibitors and visitors. The number of entries rose
steadily, 700 in 1957, 754 in 1960, 830 in 1962, 846
in 1963, 1094 in 1964, whilst the year-on-year show reports
describe each event as "the best ever" . The
show opener in 1956 said that the West Kilbride Show "was
an ideal event and had a character all of its own",
and there was a similar eulogy in 1959 with the statement
that the Show was "A festival of village friendship
in which everyone competed on even terms"
As in previous years there were many diplomas, special
prizes and similar awards, many gifted by firms, horticultural
periodicals and individuals. There was intense competition
for the four main Trophies available in 1955, the Overton
Vase, the Glenbryde Rose Bowl, the Orchard Trophy and the
Samson Trophy, whilst three new trophies were gifted too.
The Orchard Trophy, for most points in the Vegetable Section,
was won every year of the 10-year period by Mr. J. Miller.
The Glenbryde Rose Bowl, for most points in the Cut Flower
Section, was won every year of the 10-year period by Mr.
J. Alton. Mr. Alton was a prolific and expert exhibitor
in many classes; in 1958 his prize tally amounted to 14
firsts, 8 seconds and 10 thirds. The Samson Trophy for
most points in the Rose Section had a variety of winners
and was held for the last three years 1962 - 1964 by J.
Stevens. The Overton Challenge vase, for Home Industries,
was won for four years by Mrs. Welch and four years by
Mrs. Paton.
Trophies
In 1956 the Aiknut Shield was presented by Mrs Elsie Beveridge,
Aiknut, to be awarded for most points in the children's
section; ages 10 - 14; it was first won by Sally Whetstone.
Mr. Cohen, Mhor, gave a trophy in 1957 to be called the
Mary Cohen Cup, to be awarded for the best exhibit in Class
36 of Sweet Peas; its first winner was W.G.(Bill) Jack,
who also won it in each of the remaining years of this
period. In 1960 Sir Maurice Bloch, Marathon, awarded a
Trophy bearing his name for most points in the Dahlia section,
the first winner being D. Hughes. In 1961 another new trophy
was gifted by Mr. Allan of South Cottage for most points
in the Pot Plant section. It was won for three years running
by his gardener Mr. K. Leimanis who then retained permanent
possession of the trophy. Mr Allan, president of the Society
in 1964, then kindly presented another trophy of similar
name (The Allan Trophy) and similar purpose, for annual
competition, which in its first year 1964 was again won
by K. Leimanis. In 1962 Mr Wm. Adams of Auchenames awarded
the Portencross Trophy for most points in the chrysanthemum
section, its first winner being Sam Grant in 1962. The
Hillbury Trophy for the best miniature floral arrangement
was given by Mrs. R.J.Bown of Hillbury in 1964 and was
first won by Miss Liddle.
Show openers Each year the Show was formally opened by
some prominent local person; for names see Appendix 4.
Other summer show matters
It was noted in 1956 that although the show generally
was good, there were no entries in either the sweet pea
or chrysanthemum classes, possibly due to poor weather
that year; also that there was a poor entry in the baking
sections. In later years sweet pea interest developed rapidly,
however, and the Mary Cohen trophy was available for competition.
There were usually trade displays by, for example, Dunlop
and Blyth, Rafferty and Lithgow, Kilmarnock (Roses), Peebles,
Saltcoats (Cacti), Fraser's, Dundonald (Roses). Platform
decoration remained in the hands of H. Paton and A. Menzies;
in 1960 there were more than 200 individual pots in the
display. In 1964 a new class was introduced in the decorative
section for displays in Alcoves, and also in that year
a class for exhibits of wine.
Staging continued to be contracted out to local joiners,
Gemmell's.
In 1964 a Wine Section was introduced.
Spring Shows 1955 - 1964
Just as the Summer Show during these years enjoyed ever-increasing
success. so also did the Spring Show, which continued to
be held in the School on a Saturday each Spring, usually
in the second half of February. The Society provided bulbs
to the children in the previous November and helped in
the potting and with cultivation instructions. The School
Head Teacher, Mr. J. K. Rutherford, was an enthusiastic
member of the Society's Committee, and indeed held the
office of President in two different periods . He and the
school staff maintained specimen bulbs in all the school
classes throughout the growing season, so attracting the
constant attention of the children and encouraging their
own efforts. These efforts bore considerable fruit; in
1956 there were 26 children's daffodil and 21 hyacinth
exhibits (and only 4 adult daffodils!).
In 1964 the children's daffodil entry numbered over 100;
in this year the show was at the somewhat later date
of 7th. March. In 1963 the Society's bulb issue included
poetaz narcissi and double tulips as well as daffodils
and hyacinths.
One innovation which met with great success was the introduction
in 1961 of a new group of classes for miniature gardens.
There were 28 entries over four age-group classes in
that year. In 1962 the number had increased to 40, and
it is noted that all entries showed great originality
and ingenuity. There was considerable physical effort,
too, for the children, the parents and the show stewards
in coping with such a number of relatively massive entries
mostly presented in wooden fish boxes filled with garden
soil; these were the days before plastic trays and prepared
lightweight composts were readily available. In 1963
a prize was awarded for the most natural miniature garden,
to counter the increasing tendency for entrants to include
a wealth of artificial features. Another successful innovation
was a class for floating bowl displays.
Bulbs and bulb fibre issued to the school children were
purchased locally; in 1959 fibre from Todd Bros cost £2/1/-
and bulbs from D.Ramage £12/4/6. These costs were
partially offset by collections at the Show, which in
1956 amounted to only £5/1/6.. The balance was
somewhat redressed by holding a raffle at the Show; in
1962 this brought in an additional £4/17/5.
In 1963 Mr. Leveridge gave a display of cacti and Mr. Leimanis
a display of primulas and pot plants.
To stimulate interest in children's bulb-growing and to
encourage a greater return from the bulbs supplied to the
schoolchildren by the Society, the committee in 1957 gave
a Trophy to be named the Daffodil Cup, to be awarded for
the best exhibit in these classes. In the following year
a complementary Trophy named the Hyacinth Cup, was also
given.
Society administration
J.T.Black was President from 1956 to 1961, followed by
J.K.Rutherford and F.E.Welch. The Secretary for 1955 -
56 was D. Currie, and then W.G.Jack for the rest of the
period until 1964. J.Plenderleith was Treasurer in 1955,
followed by Matthew Jardine. Members of the 1962 Committee
were: - J.W.McDavid, J. Alton, W. Kerr, W. Martindale.
W. Smith, D. Paton, J. Baird, K. Leimanis, A. Ritchie,
J. Howat, S. Grant, J. Reid, J. Miller, D. Parker, J. Black,
L. Gazeley. The Ladies' Committee for that year comprised
Mrs Welch, Mrs Martindale, Mrs. Sutherland, Mrs Bown, Mrs
Ritchie, Mrs Paton, Mrs Bensted, Mrs Freeman, Mrs. Whyte,
Mrs Kelland, Mrs Bell, Mrs Black.
Society membership was 500 in 1962, 540 in 1963. In 1956
Mr. J. H. Gemmell, former Committee Member and former
Society president, noted that he had first been at a
West Kilbride Flower Show 75 years ago.
Though the Society's finances
remained generally in the black, the annual balance standing
around £50, reference
is occasionally made to the smallness of this figure. In
1958 the admission charge was 2s/6d, apparently unchanged
since 1895, but in 1960 both membership and entry fees
were increased, the membership charge rising to 3/- whilst
in that same year Sir Maurice Bloch made a financial donation
of £20.; as a result of these changes the annual
balance rose to £140 by 1964
A picture of the overall financial position may be gained
by a look at the cash book for 1964. The total income for
the year was £254, made up from -
Donations (incl. patrons) £74
Subscriptions (538 members @ 3s/- ea.) 81 Prize donations
9
Show entries 12
Hire of vases 3
Spring show income 16
Summer show income - admissions, 594 @ 1s/-
104 @ -/6d 33
Raffle 20
Sale of flowers 6
and the total expenditure was £253, made up of -
Hall hire charges £14
Catering 11
Stationery 61
Staging (Gemmel's) 29
Engraving 7
Prize money 61
Insurance 4
Bulbs (Spring show) 15
Honorarium to Secretary 30
Commission to collector 18
Sundries 3
Other activities Lectures, film shows and visits continued
during the early years. Mr. R. Brown, Weirston, gave a
film show on Roses in 1955, followed by a talk by Mr. Jackson
(Bannantyne and Jackson, Hamilton) also on roses. Mr. Jackson
spoke again the following year on Trees and Shrubs. In
1962 there was a quiz. Mr. J. Crosbie of Imrie's, Ayr,
spoke on Virus-free dahlias in 1956 and a visit was made
to his nurseries and also to Bellisle Park to see trials
of dahlia seedlings by the British Dahlia Growers Federation.
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