Half a Century of Memories

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Half a Century of Memories

Several of the older members were stalwart workers in the hut. Mr Putterill kept the till most weekends. He specialised in growing his own tobaccos, both pipe and cigar, and the hut smelt like a bonfire! Behind the counter was Mr Ford, a shoemaker living at Strand on the Green in the tiny house next to the Bell and Crown. He was always accompanied by his son who was deaf and dumb. There was also “old” Mr Clews and Harry Booth - a professional gardener who always showed some lovely lettuces. Harry was a countryman with a lovely Sussex accent. Another countryman come to town was Mr Leach, also a strong supporter of the flower shows. He lived with his daughter, a forewoman at the Cherry Blossom Factory and had an allotment on Cherry Blossom land on part of Duke’s Meadows. He showed a number of us how to bud roses and I still have some I did at that time. Mr Leach had a tiny greenhouse at the back of his house, with pot plants flourishing on staging up to the roof well above my head.

For several years in the 1950s I was Show Secretary. The Shows were mainly held in the hall of Staveley Road School (now a superior housing estate.) We had much more competition at that time and setting up was pretty hectic. The show entries were handled by Miss Ettrick, a frequent winner in the floral art classes. Among other competitors in this field was Jean Black, Audrey Walker (wife of Councillor Arnold Walker) and Bert Higgins. Jean Black’s husband Norman was Chiswick born and bred, schooled at Gunnersbury Prep School, 50 yards from his home. He was a very active and successful chairman, but sadly died quite young. At the show Mr Mumford (of the High Street timber merchants) was the usual winner in sweet peas; he had the advantage of growing them in the country. Freddy Forth specialised in splendid large dahlias (being a large round person himself). His daughter presented a cup in his memory for dahlia classes. Sid Poulton was also keen on dahlias. He was Show Secretary for a number of years. Mr Clemas also showed dahlias. His daughter helps with the show now. Tom Callender was a keen shower of chrysanthemums. Mrs Callender is an honorary member.

In the 1950s, Mrs Hellen reigned supreme in the domestic classes with very attractive cakes and preserves. Then in 1957 we had a new judge, who conscientiously tasted all the jams and found that Mrs Hellen’s entry was not according to schedule. It looked beautiful but it had been set with some jellying material and contained a chemical preservative! Her entry was disqualified and she did not enter again. Linda Thornett was also a regular competitor in the Domestic Classes, and presented a cup for competition. She is the daughter of Mr Barnes who had a hardware shop in the High Road. Don McIntyre, the Park superintendent, was a good friend to our shows and often arranged a floral display to enhance the competitive exhibits. His widow Connie is one of our Vice Presidents.

Our chairman in my early days was Mr Hoare, who lived in Staveley Road next door but one to the Park gates. His neighbour was Mr R R Tomlinson, an established portrait painter. His house has a north-facing studio in the attic. Mr Tomlinson became our president in the 1950s. He designed and had made the president’s badge of office, which had a green stone as pendant, signifying the seed. I believe the pendant has now been lost. Mr Tomlinson presented a trophy for the Floral Arrangement Classes.

When I started, allotment holding was still very much a leftover from wartime, and the emphasis was very much on vegetables. Also it should be remembered that we were all poorer. We worked out that we were saving 10 shillings a week, equivalent to a year’s merit increase in my job, so well worth having, quite apart from the freshness factor.

Today, allotments are perhaps less important from the money angle, but the freshness factor, the pride of achievement, the enjoyment of fresh air and the benefit of the exercise are just as important. For me the fact that this is basically my domain, where I can do things my way, also matters. Looking round at other people's gardens and allotments it is clear that they are important means of developing individual ideas, in a world where there is too much all-the-sameness. And I think George Chipperfield’s point is very important - we make a lot of good friends.

Kurt Berger

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