Edinburgh SRGC News and Show 2016

[Maggi Young]

SRGC members are saddened by the death of  former president, J. Harley A. Milne.

 Harley served the Club in many official  positions over the years and was  a very popular president, exhibitor, judge and speaker and  was a former Chairman of the RHS Joint Rock Garden Plant Committee. Harley died peacefully, in his 84th year, on Friday, March 25, 2016, in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.  He was the loving and much loved husband of Winnie, dear father of Donald, Andrew and Roderick, much loved granddad of Ruaridh, Struan, Tom and Archie and father-in-law to Rosie and Nicki. He will be greatly missed.

We send our deepest sympathy to Winnie and their Sons and family at this very sad time.
 
Here are details of his memorial service which will be held in Edinburgh on the day before the Edinburgh SRGC Show.
Memorial service to be held at Greenbank Parish Church Braidburn Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 6ES, on Friday, April 8, 2016, at 12 noon.
All friends welcome. No flowers please.

[Maggi Young]

On a happier note,  the SRGC Edinburgh Show will take place in the Fairmilehead Church Centre, Frogston Road West, Edinburgh EH10 7AA  on Saturday 9th April.


It is worth pointing out that even though the show hall will be closed for judging until 12:00,there will be access to the plant stalls from 10:30. The tea hall with all that yummy baking will be opened a little later, but before 12.

 The 6 nurseries present this year will be as follows (in addition to the Group's stall):

MacPlants
Binney Plants
Kevock Garden Plants
Ardfearn Nursery
Rumbling Bridge Nursery
Aberconwy Nursery

[DaveM]

Harley Milne will indeed be greatly missed by all of us in the Edinburgh Group. In addition to his many roles for the Club which Maggi has mentioned, Harley was also Convener of the Edinburgh Group, and later its Show Secretary from 1992 to 1997. So, with the Show this year on the day after his memorial service, can I encourage all to bring plants to Edinburgh and help to make this an extra special show in celebration of his contribution.

I look forward to seeing all at the show!!!

[DaveM]

At Hexham yesterday, I was asked if we had a photo of Harley. Well, here's one from 1984, taken at the Aberdeen Show, where he was judging. Harley is third from left in the group. Also here are Bob Maxwell (2nd from left), Harold Esslemont (4th from left) and Alastair McKelvie (right). Sorry, but I don't know who the others are.
(Photo: Aberdeen Journals Ltd)

[Maggi Young]

In the photo above the  people are, left to right,  John Duff,  Bob Maxwell,  Harley Milne,  Harold Esslemont,  Sylvia Simpson  and Alastair McKelvie (right) 

 Here's a pic from the forum by Stan at   the Highland (Nairn) Show  of Ian Young, Elspeth Mackintosh, Harley and Winnie Milne, and Cathy Caudwell

[Roma]

I'll miss having a chat with Harley at the Discussion Weekends.  Harley and Winnie are among the few, perhaps the only people I remember from my first visits to the Discussion Weekends in the late seventies who were still regular attenders. 

[Matt T]

Our thoughts are with dear Winnie and their family. A sad loss for them and the Club. I'll be arriving in town too late to make it to the memorial service for Harley, but am looking forward to catching up with friends at the Edinburgh Show this weekend and hope folk turn out lots of splendid plants in celebration of Harley.

[Stan da Prato]

After Harley's memorial service local members gathered at the show venue to set up the benches,  tables etc.

[Stan da Prato]

Then the plants start arriving including  the van from Edinburgh Botanics. So too do individual members with their  contributions.  A small trolley is very helpful as this  elderly gentleman demonstrates.

[Maggi Young]

A small trolley is very helpful as this  elderly gentleman demonstrates.

 That gentleman is Stan's good friend and very competent grower and exhibitor, Watt Russell - who will spend a lot of tomorrow serving on the SRGC Plant Stall, I expect.  Question now is whether or not Stan is still on Watt's Christmas card list? 

[Maggi Young]

Great Edinburgh show - the  charming Beryl MacNaughton, looking uncharacteristically  serious, ready to start sales  for MacPlants



and  Well Done to RBGE Alpine Dept. team for another Gold Medal ‬for their display !  Elspeth Mackintosh  of RBGE checking details...

[Maggi Young]

Super quote from Lynn Corrigan at Scottish Rock Garden Club Edinburgh Show this morning !

" 6 plants bought, 2 cakes ate, bucks fizz won in tombola. And the show hasn't even opened yet."
Show open NOW  and plants sales and cake available till 4pm at Fairmilehead Church Halls - pic from twitter @NTS_SHG

[Maggi Young]

No photo yet but very excited to hear that Forrest Medal at SRGC Edinburgh Show has gone to Jane and Alan Thomson, a pair of very good growers from the Edinburgh SRGC Group - it's their first Forrest! They have won with what I hear is a super potful of a Pleione hybrid. It was also awarded a First class Certificate and a Cultural Commendation from the @RHS joint rock garden plant committee - What a triple whammy for their first Forrest! Well done Jane and Alan!

[Maggi Young]

News latest!  Pic from Alan Gardner of the  Forrest Medal winning plant Edinburgh grown by Jane & Alan Thomson: Pleione 'Doreen'

[Stan da Prato]

Local group stalwarts Jane and Alan Thomson were  popular winners not just of the  Forrest (their first )but a certificate of merit for their Hepatica Millstream Merlin. Cyril Lafong as usual brought many fine plants and took the Henry Archibald Rose Bowl for  Class 2 -3 plants from different genera. Unfortunately one was away at joint rock  when I snapped this class. He also won class 3 for 3 pans new, rare or difficult plants so took the Elsie Harvey Memorial trophy.Cyril also received a merit cert. for his very fine Dionysia.