CHAPTER
10
FROM 1988 TO THE PRESENT
As noted in the last chapter, location of the West Kilbride
Museum in the upper floor rooms of the Public Hall in 1988
resulted in major changes to our two Flower Shows as a
result of the curtailment of available exhibition space.
Rather than the cancellation or extinction of show classes
the committee decided to transfer several activities from
the Summer Show to the Spring Show.
Transfer of "non-floral" classes, largely hobbies
and handicrafts, which incidentally the Society had spent
many years fostering as the old "Industrial" ,
later "Home Industries" Section, freed display
space for the floral, vegetable, wine and decorative classes
which had been the backbone of the Summer Show since its
inception. Some two years were necessary to adequately
accomplish the necessary changes with all their implications,
and looking back now, we have to say that our exhibitors,
visitors and the public in general were most tolerant and
understanding of the need to make the changes and of the
changes themselves.
Some 80 classes were removed from the Summer Show Schedule
and were as far as possible introduced into the next Spring
Show. The following note from the Show Convenor, Denis
Leary, appeared in the 1988 Spring Show Schedule:-
Summer Show Advance Notice - August 1988
"The attention of potential exhibitors
at our 1988 Summer Show is drawn to the fact that the
space available
for our use in the Public Hall has been significantly reduced
by the exclusion of the entire upper floor. This leads
inevitably to a reduction in the scope of the Classes available
for exhibitors, resulting in many of the non-horticultural
items, and those Classes that have attracted a low level
of entries in the past, being omitted for 1988.
The Committee regret this retrograde step but it is due
to circumstances well beyond our control. It is nevertheless
intended to produce a high standard of Show in the remaining
space."
In the 1988 Summer Show Schedule the Show Convenor reported
again :-
"The 1988 Annual Show As most
potential exhibitors will be aware, a Museum has been
established in the Public
Hall, occupying the upper floor. The area available to
us for Show purposes has been considerably reduced, leading
to the inevitable reduction in the Classes we can accommodate.
Since the Show is primarily for Flowers, Fruit and Vegetables,
the committee has reluctantly reduced the non-horticultural
items.
It is intended to introduce as many of the deleted classes
as possible, together with the relevant trophies, into
the 1989 Spring Show in order that a forum for Handicrafts
is re-established. We regret this retrograde step but
it is due to circumstances beyond our control."
The 1988 Summer Show
This was set up with the reduced format mentioned, using
the ground floor of the Hall only, and the pattern adopted
has been followed ever since. Although many teething troubles
were naturally encountered, exhibitors and visitors alike
commented favourably on the friendly atmosphere at the
Show It was opened by Mr. Jas. Smith of Auchincruive.
The number of competition classes had been reduced from
over 400 to just under 300 due to lack of space; consequently
the number of exhibits, which had been some 1100 in 1987,
was now down to 726 and the number of exhibitors from 207
to 143. Money taken at the door fell from £120 to £70,
though this was compensated to some extent by a high income
of £126 from the raffle and, naturally, a lower prize
money payout (down from £140 to £76)
Summer Shows up to 1997
For the remaining years of the period
the pattern of the main show continued in the main hall
as in 1998 with little
change other than the normal schedule adjustments and the
introduction of some new classes. In 1994 a new "Star
Prize" was introduced, with a higher than normal £10
prize money, with the object of stimulating new interests
by awarding this for a different project every year. The
first such project in 1994 was for a Collection of Medicinal,
Culinary or Aromatic Herbs, the method of display being
left to the exhibitor's imagination. In subsequent years
the projects were - 1995, a Miniature Garden, 450mm x 300mm
maximum size, only one artificial item allowed, judging
to be on realism and artistic merit; in 1996 the best in-situ
exhibit i.e. a planted-up container displayed at the exhibitors
residence , and in 1997 a collection of Fruit and Vegetables.
The project for the forthcoming show in 1998 is a Celebration
Cake decorated to celebrate the 103rd. anniversary of the
Show.
In general the Star prizes have not, so far, attracted
any large number of new exhibitors but have stimulated
interest and imagination in presentation. The one exception
was the 1996 in-situ container exhibit for which there
were some 25 entrants, most exhibits being of very high
quality. There is clearly a large interest in container
gardening and the class has been continued in later years,
though without the "Star Prize" designation.
It has been complemented by a special "Cameron" prize
for Hanging Baskets" given by an anonymous donor.
For the judging of these in-situ exhibits at individual
homes, preliminary assessment is made by a small. group
of 2- 3. members of committee who select a "short
leet" of 4 or 5, with the final selection being
carried by one of the Society's normal specialist Show
judges; all exhibits are photographed and the pictures
displayed at the Show and later in the (new) West Kilbride
Library. A fair amount of work is involved but so far
the effort has been well worth-while.
In 1991 Bonsai was introduced as a competition class.
Sweet pea display
Each year we continued to have a collection of sweet
peas (cut flowers) for display. kindly provided by
the Glasgow
District Council (later the City of Glasgow) Parks
Department gardens at Bellahouston, where the Scottish
Sweet Pea
Society hold their trials each year. This tradition
dates back to the 1970's when our own specialist growers,
in
particular the late Bill Jack, were active members
of that Society. W.K. Committee members collect some
30
- 40 vases of sweet peas on the Friday before Show
day and return the vases the following week. It is
hoped
that the head gardener at Bellahouston, Mr. Frank Reilly,
will open the West Kilbride Summer Show in 1998.
To some extent it may be said that the summer shows never
fully recovered from the major change introduced in 1988,
though compliments on standards and presentation continued
to be received each year. The number of entries, having
initially fallen from the old level around 1100. came down
in the first (reduced format) year to 720 by the loss of
some 80 classes, and since then has been in the range 500
- 700, moving slowly downwards. The show now tends to be
largely amateur-based rather than specialist-based as was
the case in earlier years when we had sizeable numbers
of specialist and enthusiastic exhibitors in, for example,
the classes for sweet peas, begonias, dahlias and chrysanthemums.
In 1996 The Committee decided to renew membership of the
Scottish National Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society which
had lapsed since the early '80's and this had some effect
in bringing additional dahlia exhibitors, though the show
date in August is somewhat early for chrysanthemum displays.
There is undoubtedly a major amateur interest in all aspects
of horticulture - garden centres abound as a multi-million
pound industry, there are radio and television programmes
galore, and lectures/ demonstrations/ quizzes are established
in many places So it is the committee's task for the
future to keep abreast of developments and try to retain
the status and high standards of the West Kilbride Shows
well into the future.
The Spring Shows
1989 was the first "New format" Spring
Show with an increase of some 80 classes transferred
from the
Summer show, largely in hobbies and Handicrafts sections.
The total number of entries was 580, an increase of about
150 from the shows in the old format. For the remainder
of the period the number of spring entries continued in
the range 390 - 580 and the numbers sometimes equal, or
just exceed, the number at the summer show. The number
of schoolchildren's daffodil entries from bulbs given by
the Society continues to fall being only 34 in 1997; generally
the return averages less than 10% of the (ca 400) bulbs
supplied. In 1992 the Secretary, Finlay Currie, made an
analysis of the fate of some 240 of the school bulbs, as
follows:-
Died 51
Flowered too early 109
Still to flower 38
Leaves only, no flowers 12
Presented at show 18
It would appear that one major factor in the poor returns
is, as expected, the problem in many households in obtaining
sufficiently cool conditions for early growth of the bulbs
Guidance notes are issued to the children at each bulb
planting time. From 1990 the bulbs, generally of good quality
and reasonable price, have been purchased from J.Parker
(Wholesale) Ltd.
One immediate consequent casualty of
the change in spring show format was the removal of the
tables for tea formerly
set up in the front part of the hall; there was no longer
space for these. Though small, this miniature "tea-room" was
greatly missed. Space for "trade stands" was
also curtailed, though it was possible from 1992 to give
space to Mrs Gibson from Largs who is a grower of polyanthus
and primroses and in each year since has had a most colourful
spring display of these plants for sale, and also as raffle
prize. The Spring Show continued in this standard format.
Trophies
In 1990 Dr. & Mrs Jim Blair, Pantonville Road, members
of committee (Jim as Past president) donated the Blair
Trophy for competition in the baking section, and in the
same year the Society gave a Challenge Shield to be awarded
for pot plants and flowers at the Spring Show. The Daffodil
Cup, given by the Society in 1957 for children's daffodil
bulbs at the Spring Show, had no more space for name-engraving
left by 1994. Scottish Nuclear kindly donated a replacement
in that year and the old cup was given to the West Kilbride
School for retention and display. Also in 1994 a replacement
Hyacinth Cup was donated by Mrs Isobel Currie & family
in memory of Isobel's husband the late J. Finlay Currie,
Committee Member and Society Secretary at the time of his
death and a former President. The old Hyacinth Trophy was
given to Isobel Currie for retention; she had won it on
several occasions. The total number of Trophies owned by
the Society was now thirty-four (Appendix 5 )
Trophy Winners 1997 The following is a list of Trophy
Winners at the 1997 Shows:-
Spring Show
Daffodil Cup Andrew Donaldson
Hyacinth Cup Pamela Hill
Society Challenge Shield David Castlevecchi
Ailsa Bowl P.S.Thorburn
Bowfield Trophy Andrea Wilson
John Temple Black Trophy Norma McDougall
Overton Challenge Vase Kerry Brittan
Claire Marie-Anne Lockhart
Trophy Hannah Donaldson
Mrs Paterson Smith Trophy Hannah Donaldson
Matthew Jardine Trophy Hannah Donaldson
Summer Show
Elsie Beveridge Trophy N. Gibson
Allan Trophy David Castlevecchi
W. Martindale Trophy David Castlevecchi
South Cottage Trophy David Castlevecchi
Cactus Society Trophy David Castlevecchi
Glenbryde Rose Bowl Audrey Brown
Samson Trophy R. Hope
Wm. White Trophy R. Hope
Mary Cohen Cup K. Milne
Sir Maurice Bloch Trophy Wm. Craig
Cubrieshaw Trophy Wm. Craig
Portencross Trophy David Paton
Orchard Trophy David Paton
Helen Strang Trophy Chris Ferguson
Muriel McKenzie Trophy Chris Ferguson
Hillbury Trophy Chris Ferguson
Parkgrove Trophy Chris Ferguson
Blair Trophy Elma McFadyen
Dr. Bill Jack Trophy Lesley Kelso
Wine Trophy R. Garrett
Aiknut Shield Amanda Kelso
Junior Aiknut Shield Victoria Roos
Jubilee Collector's Trophy Campbell McFadyen
Staging at Shows
It was now possible to stage the Spring
Show using the collapsible tables belonging to the Local
Authority. For
the Summer shows the two main centre stages with their
upper tiers were still built up using the old forms and
timber stored, when not needed, in the "dunny" at
the side of the Main hall; a major clear-out of this area
was carried out in 1996 and much old timber disposed of.
All side and wall stagings were now assembled using the
Hall tables; some 50+ were normally needed for a Summer
Show, necessitating the borrowing or hiring what was needed
above the normal Hall complement. Since Council-owned tables
were liable to be moved around from hall to hall within
the local area, acquiring enough for show staging was,
each year, a wearisome business , involving what always
seemed to be an excessive amount of to-ing and fro-ing
between various Council offices and personnel. From 1986
John Lightfoot has been Staging Convenor. It was hoped
in 1991 to obtain some assistance from members of the Boys'
Brigade in assembling and dismantling staging but this
did not materialise.
Platform decoration
The supply of plant material for platform
decoration has largely been from the Council greenhouses
and nurseries
at Largs and Saltcoats; that at Largs was closed in 1996
leaving Saltcoats as the sole source. The Society remains
greatly indebted to Eric Smith from NAC Saltcoats for continuing
to supply such high quality material year by year allowing
us to have a platform display which is always greatly admired,
and to Mr & Mrs Archie Turner for arranging the plants
on the platform and its staging. Following the changes
in Show format increasing the scope of the Spring Show,
it was decided to decorate the platform for the Spring
Show also and Eric came up trumps in 1996 with suitable
spring material.
Spring Plant Sale
For many years the annual plant sale
had made a very substantial contribution to the Society's
income. Unfortunately the
number of members able to produce plants for sale was declining.
The amount of work involved was considerable; seed-sowing,
germination, pricking out and bringing on the young plants,
took a lot of time and attention virtually from January
till sale time in May. By the 90's a very large proportion
of this was being shouldered by committee members, Dorothy
and John Lightfoot, who were producing some 3000 annuals
for sale each year over a twelve year period from 1985.
This outstanding contribution was recognised by the Committee
in 1996 by presenting John and Dorothy with a token and
certificate of Appreciation. In 1993 a step was taken to
purchase quantities of pre-germinated seedlings, also young
plants and "plug" plants which were now becoming
readily available. Buying material from C.& M, Frame,
Tillitudlem, made some reduction in work load, though many
weeks of plant care and attention were still needed. A
sub-committee recommended that every effort be made to
continue with the plant sale, not only as a fund-raising
event but also as a type of promotional exercise for the
Society. On this sub-committee's recommendation, for the
1997 plant sale the purchase of "ready-to-sell" plants
from local commercial sources was tried out; one such source
was Sunnyside Nursery in Kilwinning, formerly owned by
George McKee who was one of our judges;. The business was
now operated by his son David who proved most helpful in
giving us high-quality plants on a sale-or-return basis.
Naturally such procedure will reduce our financial return
as compared with growing plants from seed but it seems
a sensible way to go forward and will be pursued in future
years. Sadly Mr. George McKee died in 1997.
From time to time scented narcissi (cut flowers) have been
available from Hunterston Estate for sale at the day
of the plant sale, by permission of the Estate owner,
Nigel Cochrane-Patrick. They are attractive and unusual
flowers which are a welcome addition, but as they tend
to late-flowering are not always ready at sale time.
Other Society Activities
Constitution and Charity Status Although
the financial position of the Society remained healthy
the committed
had note of the continuing increases in major expenditure
items against the potential diminution in plant sale revenues
in the future; one possible avenue for a cost reduction
would be to acquire "Charity Status" ; this might
allow for some reduction in Hall rental charges levied
by North Ayrshire Council. Accordingly the Treasurer communicated
with the Charities branch of the Income Tax authority and,
with advice from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations,
drew up a new Constitution for the Society which would
be legally acceptable to the Authorities. This new constitution
was formally adopted by the Committee , was deemed acceptable
by Income Tax, and the registration number SC 026937 was
given in 1997. Whilst possibly conferring benefits to the
Society with respect to Council charges and perhaps grant
Aid or Funding in the future, the new constitution places
restrictions on the precise use to which the society's
funds are put; they must be used solely for the Society's
formal objectives as defined in the Constitution.
"Commemorative Tree" at Community
Centre In 1993 it was realised that this commemorative
tree planted
by the Society in the grounds of the Community Centre in
1981 was in failing health and it was replaced by a decorative
hawthorn.
Personnel and Administration
The Presidency was held by James Blair in 1988 and by
George Sloan in the succeeding years. Finlay Currie was
Secretary until his sudden death in 1993, and Pamela Hill
thereafter. The offices of Show Convenor and of Treasurer
have been held throughout this period by Denis Leary and
Douglas Penman respectively whilst John Lightfoot and Dorothy
Lightfoot have been Staging Convenor and Minute Secretary
respectively. The position of Chief Steward was held by
George Sloan in 1988, then by John Lamb until 1993 and
subsequently by Graham Finlay. Mr. A.G. Millar audited
the Society's books throughout, with Peter Hinde about
to take over for 1998.
Long Service in Office is clearly a characteristic of Society
positions and, as this history indicates, has been from
earliest times. Whilst this provides much-valued continuity
and a wealth of experience, the Society can be very vulnerable
when a position is left vacant, and for some time the
Committee reviewed the various tasks and drew up written
job lists and specifications. There was a particularly
difficult time in 1993 when the Secretary Finlay Currie
died suddenly only three weeks before the Summer Show
Fortunately his show plans and arrangements had been
efficiently and thoroughly prepared but even so the last-minute
emergency reinforced the need for detailed information
to be available and easily accessible. Pamela Hill took
over the Secretaryship at short notice and administration
has proceeded smoothly thereafter. In 1997 the Society
had another loss by death of Ron Furlong who with his
family had been closely associated with the Society for
some 20 years. Their daughter Judy was Show Secretary,
later Show Convenor from 1977 to 1987, son Michael was
Publicity Convenor in the 70's, followed in that position
by his father, and Ron's late wife Dulcie was a member
of the Ladies Committee, altogether making an impressive
family record
There follows a list of Society personnel at Dec. 1997:-
President J.G.Sloan
Secretary Mrs Pamela Hill
Minute Secretary Mrs Dorothy Lightfoot
Treasurer D.M. Penman
Show Convenor D.E.Leary
Chief Steward G. Finlay
Computer programmer Ian McSeveny
Staging Convenor John Lightfoot
Publicity Convenor Mrs.Christine Campbell
Committee - The above Officebearers with Miss Pat.Anslow,
Mrs Ada Blair, Mrs Eleanor McSeveny, Mrs Anne Finlay, Mrs.
Deirdre Murray, Brian Murray
There were also the following Honorary Offices -
Hon President - Mrs C. Welch, who was a former Convenor
of the Ladies committee; her late husband Frank held in
his time all Society Offices including President and was
a Vice-President and founder member of the Society at its
re-formation in 1947.
Hon. Vice-President - Mr. James Howat has been a member
of Committee since 1954, is recognised for his horticultural
expertise and wide contacts, and has been Society president
Hon. membership of Committee - Peter MacNab is a long-serving
member of Committee and exhibitor at our Shows revealing
a variety of talents in such diverse field as marmalade
making and the crafting of horn-handled staffs. In 1996
he opened the Summer Show, at the age of 92, almost certainly
establishing a longevity record for this task.
Eric Smith, - a West Kilbride man now living in Ardrossan,
is in charge of the North Ayrshire Council's greenhouses
and plant nursery at Saltcoats. He has been a judge at
West Kilbride for many years and has been instrumental
in supplying plants for our much-admired platform displays.
David Castlevecchi lives in Largs and has been exhibiting
at our West Kilbride shows since 1988 when he first entered
in the children's classes. Since then he has been not
only a regular exhibitor and prize-winner but has taken
all Trophies available to his entries. Additionally,
as soon as he became old enough he has assisted our staging
committee in the setting-up and dismantling tasks at
each show and has regularly served as steward. Now, at
the age of 17, he has finished school and will be entering
college at Auchincruive to pursue a career in horticulture.
Mrs Isobel Currie has been a frequent exhibitor at the
shows and her late husband Finlay, Sergeant in Strathclyde
Police, was a member of Committee for some 20 years and
a past President and Secretary. With family connections
in horticulture he was a real expert from his earliest
days whose wisdom and knowledge have been greatly missed
since his untimely death in 1993. Isobel donated the
Hyacinth cup in his memory in 1996.
Society finances 1988 - 1997
Over the 10-year period income and
expenditure were substantially the same and the balance
in 1988 was, at £1650, the
same as in 1997. In 1990 a donation of £250 was made
to the Community Association for the provision of personal
alarms for elderly householders; in 1993 £50 was
given to the Ayrshire Hospice and in 1991 £25 to
the Society for Autistic Children. In 1993 the Society
received £500 in a legacy from the estate of the
late Mrs Sheila Whyte, who during her lifetime had been
a regular exhibitor and supporter of the Society. Though
most years were showing costs equalling income, in the
early part of the period income generally exceeded expenditure
by perhaps £200 per year, by 1993 - 94 the reverse
was the case, with a slow increase in costs over income.
Items of cost such as hall rental, printing charges, prize
monies and trophy engraving move inexorably upwards whilst
income remains static, and in the case of the plant sale
receipts, will tend to diminish. The Committee are well
aware of the position and are actively taking steps to
arrest the imbalance. The membership subscription was increased
to £1.00 in 1989. The membership in 1997 was some
360.
Judges
Judges for the Summer Show in 1997 were -
Mrs Walker, Mrs Hutcheson, Mrs McSeveny
Messrs Armstrong, Dobie, Birkenshaw, Leary, Robertson.
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