In order to
reduce our dependency on imported food during the World War 11, the
government exhorted people to “Dig for Victory”. On 15th
September 1941 a “Dig for Victory” was held in the garden of Mr (later Sir)
Richard Manktelow at 21 West Hill.
The show was
naturally orientated towards the production of food and included 23
classes for vegetables, 4 for fruit, 8 for flowers, 1 for flower
arrangements, 1 for eggs ( we were encouraged to keep chickens), 8
domestic, 3 limited to school children, and one limited to soldiers, hard
luck if you were in the navy or the air force). The produce was judged by
Roy Hay, a well known gardening broadcaster of the day.
Following
the success of this show, the organising committee under the chairmanship
of Mr Manktelow held a public meeting in the Congregational (now United
Reformed) Church Hall on 1st November 1941, outlined a
proposal to form a local Horticultural Association. The Meeting was
attended by 45 residents, and a provisional committee was elected to draft
a set of rules. These rules were submitted to the first general meeting
for approval on
9th January 1942
and they remain substantially the same to this day. Thus was the society
born.
There were
240 members in 1942 and the annual subscription was 2/- (10p in
present-day currency) Membership rose to a peak of 2786 in 1982 and today
it stands at 1,755
