THE ROCK GARDEN-January 2017

[DaveM]

Re list of Forrest medals, Maggi and Shelagh - Bob Maxwell used to keep a list. He sent me a copy in 2005, and I'm pretty sure this is as correct as it can be. I've not kept my copy up to date, but it shouldn't take me too long to do this up to end of last year. I could then make this available if you want. Perhaps it could be available for download on the web?

[Maggi Young]

An excellent idea, David, thank you.  I think Bob's list idea sprang from the time I was working on a display for the late Harold Esslemont of his huge haul of medals and bars - since  outnumbered by Cyril's efforts, of course.
I remember Harold saying , in discussing some of his Forrest medal plants , "you know, it wouldn't even get a first these days" - but while  that  may have been true for some plants, there is no denying the skills of the man who could win 43 of those precious medals! Harold and Jack Crosland  were tremendous growers as well as great friends.  Both sorely missed.
Now Bob has left us too - sad to say - a man who won a good few medals himself with his fine plants.

[DaveM]

I've just sent the updated list of Forrest medal winners to Maggi for uploading to the Club website. Just a taster:

Total medals awarded    492      
         
                           No   From   To
Dr Cyril Lafong           54   1995   2016
Mr Harold Esslemont   44   1956   1984
Mr J(Jack) Crosland   30   1961   1985
Mr Fred F Hunt           26   1982   2010
Mr Jack Drake           14   1948   1962
Mr Alexander J Leven   14   1986   2006
Mrs Christina Boyd-Harvey   11   1952   1970
Mr Eric Watson           10   1975   1995
Mr & Mrs J I Young   9   1992   2002
Mr J B Duff                   8   1966   1981
Mr & Mrs H Taylor   6   1978   2011
Mr A D Reid           6   1953   1973
Mrs S Maule           6   1964   1979
Dr Peter Semple           5   1979   2015

Of the rest, those still showing today         
Drs C & I Bainbridge   4      
Mr Geoffrey Rollinson   4      
Mrs Jean Wyllie           4      
Dr & Mrs R B Wallis   3      
Mr & Mrs V Chambers   3      
Mr Ian Kidman   3      
Mr Sam Sutherland   3      
Mrs Roma Fiddes   3      
Dr David Millward   2      
Dr Stan da Prato   2      
Mr & Mrs F Higgins   2      
Mr Alan R Furness   2      
Mr John Lee           2      
Mr Lionel Clarkson   2      
Mr & Mrs Alan Thomson   1      
Mr & Mrs David Shaw           1      
Mr & Mrs Ian McNaughton   1   plus professional medal   
Mr Alan Newton           1      
Mr Don Peace           1      
Mr George W Young   1      
Mr Harold McBride   1      
Mr Harvey C Shepherd   1      
Mr Tom Green           1      
Mr Tommy Anderson   1      

Most winning genera
Primula   48 times      
Androsace   31   A vandellii (syn imbricata)   19 times
Cassiope   23      
Cyclamen   37      
Daphne   22      
Dionysia   26      
Fritillaria   16      
Gentiana   16      
Pulsatilla   13   P vernalis   10
Rhododendron   22      
Saxifraga   16      
Trillium   14      

[DaveM]

Maggi - I never met Harold Esslemont nor Jack Crosland. As you say, very sad about Bob Maxwell. He certainly knew how to grow some great plants. He won 4 Forrests, and was often in contention, particularly with frits and trilliums. At last year's Aberdeen show one of his two massive pots of Trillium was considered for the award.

[Maggi Young]

I've just sent the updated list of Forrest medal winners to Maggi for uploading to the Club website. Just a taster:

Total medals awarded    492      
         
                           No   From   To
Dr Cyril Lafong           54   1995   2016
Mr Harold Esslemont   44   1956   1984
Mr J(Jack) Crosland   30   1961   1985
Mr Fred F Hunt           26   1982   2010
Mr Jack Drake           14   1948   1962
Mr Alexander J Leven   14   1986   2006
Mrs Christina Boyd-Harvey   11   1952   1970
Mr Eric Watson           10   1975   1995
Mr & Mrs J I Young   9   1992   2002
Mr J B Duff                   8   1966   1981
Mr & Mrs H Taylor   6   1978   2011
Mr A D Reid           6   1953   1973
Mrs S Maule           6   1964   1979
Dr Peter Semple           5   1979   2015

Of the rest, those still showing today         
Drs C & I Bainbridge   4      
Mr Geoffrey Rollinson   4      
Mrs Jean Wyllie           4      
Dr & Mrs R B Wallis   3      
Mr & Mrs V Chambers   3      
Mr Ian Kidman   3      
Mr Sam Sutherland   3      
Mrs Roma Fiddes   3      
Dr David Millward   2      
Dr Stan da Prato   2      
Mr & Mrs F Higgins   2      
Mr Alan R Furness   2      
Mr John Lee           2      
Mr Lionel Clarkson   2      
Mr & Mrs Alan Thomson   1      
Mr & Mrs David Shaw           1      
Mr & Mrs Ian McNaughton   1   plus professional medal   
Mr Alan Newton           1      
Mr Don Peace           1      
Mr George W Young   1      
Mr Harold McBride   1      
Mr Harvey C Shepherd   1      
Mr Tom Green           1      
Mr Tommy Anderson   1      

Most winning genera
Primula   48 times      
Androsace   31   A vandellii (syn imbricata)   19 times
Cassiope   23      
Cyclamen   37      
Daphne   22      
Dionysia   26      
Fritillaria   16      
Gentiana   16      
Pulsatilla   13   P vernalis   10
Rhododendron   22      
Saxifraga   16      
Trillium   14      

Dave Riley noticed that his win in 2013 was missing from the list -

As we can see from Sandy Leven's report (see it here  http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/BlackpoolForrest2013.pdf ).......

Cyclamen alpinum leucanthemum [*Cyclamen trochopteranthum forma leucanthum] shown by Dave Riley won the Forrest Medal at Blackpool in 2013.

Good luck to Dave Riley and all the other exhibitors  for the coming show season to  "bag" another  medal!

[ashley]

A very impressive list, but why must we continue to anonymize married women so completely

[DaveM]

No intention there Ashley. These have all been gleaned from the Show Reports and many given names are not included in earlier reports. I don't know many of the older ones so couldn't add to what's in Bob's list. If folk can supply correct given names I'll gladly correct the list next time around.

Apologies to Dave Riley. The show report doesn't mention your win and I clearly forgot to look for Sandy's web report (he also did the Journal report, in Jan 2014)

[ashley]

I'm sure not Dave, and thanks for compiling the list. 
But the point is a serious one for those writing Show Reports
Even if made by a grumpy old git on a wet Friday afternoon