On the 23rd January 2025 we held our AGM. This was followed by a presentation by our 2025 charity – Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bikes. A summary of the appointments and decisions made at the meeting has been circulated to members by email. If you you are a member and did not receive your copy, or would like a printed copy, please contact me or a Committee member. However, we now have, a new Chair in Stephanie Smith and Vice-chair in Liz Shaw. Liz and Paula Webster will become our Speaker Secretaries and Paula will become Website Manager, taking over from me in due course. Graham Turner is a welcome addition to the Committee.
The membership agreed unanimously that the Constitution changes to allow five members of Committee to be a quorum, so that meaningful decisions can be made on behalf of the Club.
Other motions that were carried were:
- To allow for the roles within the Committee to be shared or held jointly.
- To allow the Committee the freedom to be able to select the number of meetings, frequency and timing of meetings as convenient to them, to run the Club efficiently.
- To allow designated post holders (e.g. website manager, trips secretary) to report to the Committee as required to keep the Committee informed, but not necessarily be members of the Committee. However, the number of actual Committee Members must remain a viable number.
- The vote was almost unanimous, for only the profit of the Daffodil Show going to the chosen charity each year.
- The cost of entry will remain as £2 for members’ entry (£5 for guests) and £15 for the annual subscription. Not knowing future costs to the Club for speakers and to cover the costs of their travel, the membership felt these charges were needed to maintain the ethos of the Club.
August 2024: We welcome Liz Shaw and Paula Webster on to the Committee. Liz and Paula will be joint Speaker Secretaries from the next AGM, booking speakers from 2026 onwards, as Helen is stepping down after six first rate years in the role. They have also already set up a Facebook page for us!
We had a thoroughly enjoyable outing to RHS Bridgewater, Salford, Greater Manchester on the 5th July. The gardens were looking stunning and even the weather smiled on us for the day! Lots for us to see and do in this developing garden, one of the largest garden projects undertaken in Europe in recent years.
The coach trip to Sandringham on the 21st of May 2024 was extremely successful, with everything running to plan. Martin and Hannah were able to lead the tour of the gardens and give fabulous insights to how these have developed. How lucky we are that they have moved into our area! Thanks to Tim for all the hard work it took to organise this trip.
A beautiful sunny Easter Saturday ensured a successful Daffodil Show this year (2024), with all profits going to our chosen charity, Grimsby League of Friends. At the moment it is estimated that the total will be close to £400. A big thank you to all those involved, especially Stephanie for organising it and Johnny Walkers for coming to judge. We would not be able to have shows without so many members willing to make such an effort.
Our RHS Affiliated Membership trip to Harlow Carr Glow (December 2023) was a fabulous, although very cold success. However, as the weather was calm and clear, it allowed us amazing views of the illuminations and reflections in the water. Betty’s provided us with some warming meals and many took the chance to have a warming mulled wine or hot chocolate down by the Bath House as we made our way round.
Stephanie has volunteered to organise our Daffodil Show, next year (2024). Anyone who would like to be involved in setting this up, please make contact!
Please note: we do have to collect all promised trip monies in at least two meetings in advance to secure the coaches.
We had a lovely sunny outing to the Dukeries and Andrew Ward’s Norwell Garden, on the 29th September 2023, all organised by Helen and Louise. Andrew’s garden was burgeoning with Michaelmas daisies and phlox and he explained to us how he used sand borders to overcome his (similar to our) heavy clay.
Saturday 2nd September 2023 was Show day for the Club and Village and what a successful day it turned out to be! Plenty of entries in most of the classes (flowers, plants, vegetables, crafts, cooking, art and photography) meant lots to come and see, along with home made cake and tea in our ‘cafe’. Along with lots of healthy plants, raised by the members, to purchase very reasonably, all made for a lovely afternoon and the warm sunshine helped put a smile on everyone’s face. Many thanks to everyone who helped to make this day the success it surely was, especially to our Secretary, Linda, who took up the challenge to manage the Show for the first time this year. Thanks to all for all your support.
July 2023 We have applied for and have been granted a Community Grant from our local Coop, to provide for the planting of the flower tubs outside the Village Hall. This is great news and eases our financial burden! We are very grateful to the Co-operative Society for this generous award. There will be a presentation of the cheque at a Speaker Meeting soon.
In June, Pauline arranged for us to go to Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens and Scampston Hall Gardens. This was a lovely day out and we were all impressed particularly by Stillingfleet Lodge Garden.
April 2023 We welcome Hazel Hale and Stephanie Smith on to the Committee.
The Committee now comprises: Nicky Hobern (Chairman), Pauline Thomas (Vice Chair), Linda Wragg (Secretary and Show Manager), Pam Fairburn (Treasurer), Helen Pidgen (Programme Secretary) with Doug Stainton, Tim Prescott, Stephanie Smith and Hazel Hale. Still room for more!
March 2023 Sadly, Pauline has announced that she will be stepping down as Travel Secretary after the outing to Stillingfleet and Scampston on June 23rd. Anyone wishing to take on that role will be very welcome.
February 2023 Reluctantly Pat Rathie has had to step down from the Committee due to health issues. We thank Pat for her help and wish her well. We are delighted that Tim Prescott has joined the Committee. Welcome, Tim! However, we are very short of Committee Members and are still worried if we will always make a quorum to make decisions at meetings. Your Committee needs you!
January 2023 At the AGM on the 26th January at 7.15pm we had the opportunity to present our cheque to Katherine Wright of the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance. Katherine gave us a short talk on the work of the Air Ambulance. We learnt it cost approximately £8 million to fly every year, a staggering amount! They are reliant on fundraising and their lottery to raise this money.
Also at the AGM, it was agreed by the membership, that we must reluctantly raise our fees this year to cover the increasing cost of speakers and all other outgoings. The members agreed on raising the subscription to £15 per annum, keeping the entry the same at £2, but raising the entry cost to non-members to £5. Non members would be expected to join after 3 visits. After the business of the meeting, the members enjoyed a social with Schloer and nibbles.
November 2022 Wow! What a fantastic evening we had with Jonathan Moseley! So talented and entertaining, he kept us enthralled all evening. Many were inspired to have a go at following his techniques for wreaths and displays who would usually shy away from flower arranging, as well as those floral arrangers who were inspired to develop their skills more. We had some lovely feedback, which made all the hard work and forward planning for this very popular event worthwhile. For one, I can’t wait to see Jonathan at our flower club again.
We had a wonderful day for our September Show on Saturday the 3rd. Plenty of entries, masses of plants on the plant stall and a fabulous range of cakes! Even the sun shone! Of course, this doesn’t happen without a great deal of help and effort. A big thank you to all those who visited, exhibited, help set up, clear up, run the plant stall and toil in the kitchen, to make it a great occasion for everyone. Particular thanks to Jean and Bill for all the secretarial work and organisation and making sure everything ran as smooth as silk, from getting sponsors to handing out prizes! I have volunteers who are willing to do parts of the admin and work on the day next year, but is anyone willing to manage the event, maybe even in a slightly different format? If you’d like to discuss details please let a member of the Committee know.
September 2022 Pam Fairburn has taken over from Mike McCarthy as Club Treasurer. We thank Mike for looking after the finances for the last 20 months.
We say thank you to Mike and welcome to Pam Fairburn as our new Treasurer as of 13th September. This is a demanding job and we are grateful that Pam has stepped forward to take it on.
August 2022 We welcome Pat Rathie and Pam Fairburn on to the Committee. Bill and Jean will step down at the September Committee meeting after the Show.
Your Club Needs You! Having retired from shows, and in the Covid delayed process of handing over the reins to Allan and Nikki, Bill and Jean were persuaded to return to the Committee to run this year’s September Show only. Allan and Nikki had an unexpected opportunity to fulfil their ambition to move to Scotland, which they have sensibly taken. We are all very grateful for all their work so far and also to Bill and Jean for stepping into the breach. However, the Club needs new Show Organisers. There is always a great amount of help to present both the Daffodil and September Shows, but it needs at least one person to co-ordinate and run. Could that be you or your group of friends? Plenty of support will be available.
July 2022 Some of us crossed the country to visit RHS Bridgewater for the first time, on our 3 day Garden Club Trip. We’re also visited Biddulp Grange, Lasky Farm, and Tatton Park before stopping to see Brodsworth Hall and Garden on the return journey. We all had a thoroughly enjoyable time seeing the gardens and spending some time together again with new and old friends. Thanks to Jean for arranging this for the Club.
July 2022 We bid farewell to Allan and Nikki who heading to northern Scotland. We are extremely grateful to Jean and Bill for stepping in to take over running the show again this year.
April 2022: Well done, Pauline, for organising our first official Club Outing to Harrogate Show on the 21st of April. We had a marvellous time in glorious spring weather, coming home, in good Gardening Club tradition, laden with plants.
April 2022: It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that Ann Taylor, a very well respected and great supporter of the club, passed away suddenly on the 14th April. Ann arranged all the outings and holidays for the club for the seven years before covid disrupted everything. She was always to be found helping out wherever a need arose and she grew for and ran the plant stall at the September show. Her funeral is on the 11th May at 1.30pm at the Crematorium. Mike, Ann’s husband, is very happy for anyone who wishes to attend. She will be greatly missed.
April 2022: Our Charity Daffodil Show took place on the 2nd of April and proved to be a popular and successful event, raising money for the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance. Lots of exhibits and visitors again – just like before the pandemic stopped everything, which was fabulous! This takes a big effort from the club members; setting up, staging exhibits, baking cakes, organising the raffle, serving, judging, clearing up and months of planning, so a very BIG THANK YOU to all those involved. Everyone agreed it was a lovely occasion and worth all the effort. Many thanks to Bill and Jean who have put a vast effort into this event for many years and have now retired, handing over the reins to Allan and Nikki for next year. Well done to one and all! If anyone has any photos, I would be grateful.
February 2021: About sixty people attended our January AGM. We had a presentation on ‘Men in Sheds’ before we got down to business. Our new Treasurer, Mike, gave a heartfelt thanks for the amazing £730 we raised for Cystic Fibrosis last year. Tokens of appreciation were given to Pam, our outgoing treasurer and to Janet, our monthly raffle organiser, for their commitment and hard work. Bill and Jean, who have devoted so much of their time to the club for so long, were given tokens and also awarded with Life Membership in recognition of their dedication. Linda is now Membership Secretary and Allan and Nikki will be organising the Shows.
Aug 2021: We are pleased to have Pauline Thomas join the Committee. Pauline will take on the daunting task of Trips Manager as well, for which we are all extremely grateful!
July 2021: Bill and Jean are stepping down from the Committee at the end of 2021. This will leave a massive hole in our structure – they have selflessly given a massive amount of time over many years which has enabled the Club to be the success it is. However, they will still be involved with the Daffodil Show next April before they hand over to Allan and Nichola. Our Secretary, Linda Wragg will take over the duties of Membership Secretary, and communications will come from myself and Linda. We are hoping that other club members will be willing to join the Committee, as there are now 3-4 vacancies.
June2021: It is with great sadness that I have to report the death of Freda Fisher this June. Freda has been a long standing Committee Member and great supporter of the club. She was still attending Committee Zoom meetings until April this year! She will be greatly missed.
Allan and Nichola Michael are forging ahead with the daunting task of taking over the running of the September Show from Bill and Jean. We are extremely grateful to them all as this has been a very challenging time to take on this demanding undertaking. Bill and Jean work tirelessly throughout the year in order to maintain the smooth running of the show, acquiring sponsorship and organising the entries and classes. The Club is enhanced by their joint efforts and it is good that they are able to pass the baton on to another set of safe hands. Nichola will also be joining the Committee in order to help fulfil the role. Many thanks to all four!
After six years of organising days out and holidays, Ann Taylor has resigned as Trips Manager and Vice Chair from the start of this year. We are all extremely grateful to Ann for all her hard work over the years, ensuring we had an outing most months and an annual holiday, at a very reasonable cost. An amazing achievement! Thanks similarly to Eva, who likewise contributed a great deal to our trips out. We shall miss these steady hands on the tiller. We are grateful to Allan Michael for stepping into the role of Vice Chair to support the Club.
Our Treasurer, Pam Islip is also stepping down at the end of 2021. Pam had given notice to step down at this year’s AGM, but has remained in post due to the difficulties of finding a replacement in these exceptional times. Another extremely steady pair of hands who has given many years to looking after our finances. We are all extremely grateful, Pam. Thank you! The good news is that Mike McCarthy is in the process of taking over as Treasurer. We are very grateful to Mike for taking on this quite demanding role.
The committee is delighted to announce that NICOLE HOBERN who lives in North Thoresby, has agreed TO TAKE ON THE TASK OF CHAIRMAN OF THE CLUB. We are extremely grateful to Nicky and know all members will be glad to give her a warm welcome and support her each month. Nicky has been keen to “be of use” since joining the Club and has certainly stepped up to the mark.
Nicky’s friend, HELEN PIDGEN – also of North Thoresby – has volunteered to be Programme Secretary. Speakers for this year are booked but Helen has already got next year’s programme (2020) in hand! There’s efficiency for you!
This is the marvellous thing about our Club. We worry about jobs that just need to be taken on and somebody always steps up. Allan Michael and Mike McCarthy have stepped up to learn the ropes for arranging the Shows ready for Bill and Jean’s retirement after 2020 so the future of the Club looks good.
Most of you will know by now that Pat Sheard has retired from the position of Chairman of the Club after several years as either Secretary or Chairman. She was presented with a magnificent Lime tree (with fruit) and a large terracotta pot in which to pot it on in due course together with a certificate of Honorary Life Membership of the Club.
Pat was thrilled with her gift (but admits she is terrified she might kill it off!!)