SRGC President's Introduction
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Ian Christie, SRGC President



A letter from our the New President, Mr Ian Christie.

Hello to all of my fellow Scottish Rockers. I know that you are out there and it will be impossible to meet everyone over the next three years but I will try my utmost to visit all of the Groups during my term as President. It is a great honour and privilege to represent the club and I will endeavour to serve your interests at all times.

My first debt of gratitude and admiration goes to immediate past President Dr. Ian Bainbridge who has worked tirelessly for the club during his term of office. The members have benefited from his work and words of wisdom. I thank Ian sincerely for being such a great ambassador for The Scottish Rock Garden Club and look forward to working alongside him during the next three years.

I am just a part of a TEAM of weel kent faces which make up the members of council who oversee the running of the club. We are a strong club and attract new members via this, our excellent web site, http://www.srgc.org.uk and for those who cannot access us on the web our local groups organise shows throughout the year. I would strongly recommend that you visit at least one show, a virtual treasure of superbly grown Alpines in pots. Despite being encouraged by some new membership each year it would be marvellous to attract a larger element of younger people to join us. I therefore ask that you spread the word stressing that not only are we an enthusiastic group, we are all young at heart and one of the friendliest societies.

Gardening Scotland is another shop window for the club with our enthusiastic team setting up impressive information displays every year. Over many years the Ayrshire Group have exhibited a superb display garden and continue to fly the flag for us at Ayr Flower show. This year thanks also go to Julia Corden for involving the club in some worthwhile workshops at "Explorers",the Plant Hunters' Garden in Pitlochry. Such was the success of the practical demonstrations at Pitlochry the club intends to expand on the idea and add another location to compliment the existing programme at The Plant Hunters Garden. This will provide the opportunity for members in different geographical areas to attend the workshops, perhaps learn from the experience and also enjoy the fellowship of the club. Be sure to look in the Journal for the venues and dates.

Finally we are all lovers of these superbly diverse wee plants which come under the heading of 'Alpines'. I caught the bug away back in the early 1960s when I visited the garden of that great plant hunter Major George Sherriff and brought home my first packets of Primula and Meconopsis seed. I continued to visit the garden annually but it wasn't until the late 1970s and quite by chance that I visited my first SRGC. show in Aberdeen. From these early beginnings we started our Alpine plant nursery and now some thirty years later I am still enjoying the challenge of propagating and learning about new plants.

Where ever you are in the world it is easy to keep in touch, if you have any questions or concerns or just want to say hello please contact me direct by E mail

ianchristie@btconnect.com or contact us via www.srgc.org.uk.


Presidents get together



I made the journey on Friday to attend the A.G.S. Annual General Meeting in Solihull on Saturday 11th November. A little bedraggled after contending with traffic towards the end of the drive I nevertheless arrived safely at the venue on Friday evening to be met by president elect Frank Tindall. I thoroughly enjoyed an evening meal and chat with Frank and thank both Frank and the A.G.S. for their generous hospitality. We both agreed to try our best to bring about an even stronger friendship between the SRGC and AGS, sharing as we do, a large core of members. If both societies are in close contact perhaps we can attract a higher attendance at venues. I am convinced that we can rise to the challenge. I know Frank is approachable, forward looking, enthusiastic and a dedicated lover of plants. On behalf of and as the newly elected President of the S.R.G.C. we look forward to working with Frank and The Alpine Garden Society.

On Saturday the A.G.M. business was chaired by President John Richards. Frank was duly elected and presented John with a Lawrence Greenwood painting of a superb Primula in appreciation of his services to the A.G.S. over the past three years, a fitting tribute recognising his in-depth work with the genus Primula.

I was delighted to receive not only the Farrer Memorial Medal but honoured to be presented with The Kath Dryden Award for work with the genus Meconopsis. Kath is one of the most remarkable plants-women of this and the last century, a true friend and an inspiration to us all.

After lunch I decided to head home early to try and avoid the traffic; once again I thank everyone and congratulate all AGS members on the election of Frank Tindall as their President.

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