Greenfingered success that spans eight decades

The platform party at the inaugural Flower Show of City of Derry and District Horticultural Soceity, held in teh Guildhall on September 11, 1935. Second from left at the front is the Marchioness of Hamilton, who opened the event and behind her is the Marquis of Hamilton, Patron of the Society. On her left is Captain G E Austin, chairman of the Society. Also pictured are Lady McCorkell, and in the second row is Sir Basil McFarland (High Sheriff) and at the far end Mrs Glover Austin, as well as other dignitaries.

A few weeks ago the Society changed it’s name to Gardening Society from Horticultural Society - the only time the organisation has had a formal alteration to it’s constitution, other than in 1995, when a new constitution was adopted.

Set up in 1934, the original aim of the Society remains the same to this day: “To encourage civic awareness in gardening and the production of fine flowers and vegetables, both in private gardens and also in the many allotments in the City.”

The first Chairman was Capt Glover E Austin, grandfather to Wendy Austin, while the first President was Sir Dudley McCorkell, uncle to Sir Michael McCorkell, who died in 2005. The current President is Liam Greene businessman and keen gardiner.

Guest of Honour, Wendy Austin, and mambers Ann Morth and Anne Jones, at the 75th anniversary event.

However, as any member of the organisation will tell new members of the inquisitive, it is so much more than just a gang of green-fingered friends enjoying a pleasant pastime - the Gardening Society is renowned for its tours and trips, as well as for the social interaction enjoyed by members.

When the Society first formed members held meetings in the City Cafe in Union Place, and the first Autumn Show was held in the Guildhall. The platform party, as our pictures show, included the Marquis and Marchioness of Hamilton, and other civic dignitaries, and the then Patron was the Duke of Abercorn.

Information from the early days is thin on the ground, but the show was held over two days, and pictorial evidence suggests that it was a grand community affair, complete with trade stands, a fancy dress competition and full on teas on the second day.

By the mid-1950s a fee of 6d was charged per exhibit in the show, and admittance at the dopor was 1/6 for the first day and 1/2 for the second. Teas were 1/6 and minutes from the meetings of the time reveal that the Guildhall was suitably decorated for the two-day flower show. By this time an allotment section had been added and there were extra vegetable classes, a BBC Gardeners’ Question Time with Freddy Grisewood was held in the City Hotel and there was a film show by Portadown rose-grower Sam McGredy.

There are many long-standing family associations with the Society, not least of which are the members of the McCorkell family.

It was in 1961 that the Society held it’s first ‘Small Spring Show’ in Union Hall, mainly for floral arrangements and demonstration. Lunch was arranged for the show judges and cakes for the teas to be served in conjunction with the show were ordered from various bakeries in the town, including Eaton’s, Stevenson’s Craig’s, the Leprechaun and members also made tasty contributions.

In 1963 the Londonderry Flower Arrangement Society was formed and affiliated to the Society, and the Banksean Medal was presented and engraved by the RHS for the highest points to be gained in the Show.

By the final year of the 1960s, due to the unsettled conditions in the City, it was decided to cancel the Autumn Show, and there was a one-day show in September, such as the impact of The Troubles... It appears the Autumn show in September 1971 was the last one recorded.

Interestingly, by comparison in 1970 extra tables had to be borrowed from Culmore Horticulture Society, and over 40 years later the Society is still prospering.

By 1975 the Society had moved out of the city centre to St Peter’s Church at Culmore, where they still meet and hold their Spring Show, and diversifying activities, the Society introduced guest speakers and trips to well-known gardens like Glenveigh Castle. The changes must have worked as the entries to the Spring Shows had trebled by 1978. The Society will celebrating 40 years in St Peter’s Hall next year. No details of what the Society is planning to mark the milestone have

Visits were an annual feature of the Society by 1980 and meetings were a monthly feature of the organisation, only now the members were meeting in Clondermot Secondary School, before moving to Foyle and Londonderry College in 1983, and subsequently then moved to St Columb’s Park House in 1999, where members still meet.

A new Constitution was adopted in 1995 and in the same year the organisation held their first Public Lecture in the Broomhill House Hotel, which as given by Iain Dougall from Ayr.

In addition to their own shows and meetings, tours and trips, members also judged the Age Concern Gardening competition the winner of which receives a year free membership to the Society.

In an initiative in 1999 to encourage members to grow daffodils the club bought a supply of bulbs from daffodil growers for sale to members, and the next year, 2000, the Alpine Society set up a display for the Spring Show. There are now three sections for daffodils - Open, Intermediate and Novice - so it could be said that the initiative sparked a floral gold rush.

In the early ‘Noughties’ there was a growth spurt in members, and there are now 70 or more stalwart members. More are always welcome.