Local Group Talks : Recommending good speakers

[David Nicholson]

Two that I can can recommend:

Graham Nicholls gave a very good talk to the South Devon AGS Group a couple of weeks ago on "Tips and Tricks of Growing Alpines" , and last night at the Exeter Group Meeting Rob Potterton was on brilliant form with "A Labour of Love-40 Years at Potterton's Nursery.

I admit to investing heavily on plants from both! Either of them would be just the blokes to put pen to paper and come up with a new version of Lawrence D Hills' "Propagation of Alpines"*** but bet both would say they didn't have the time!

*** Published 1950 Faber and Faber Ltd. Second revised edition published 1959.

[ranunculus]

Many thanks to Diane Clement for an inspirational lecture to the East Lancashire Group of the AGS last evening. Diane travelled up from Pershore despite an ever present threat of snow and gave us a beautifully structured talk entitled; 'Alpines in the wild and cultivation'. Thoroughly recommended and, as always, much appreciated by our assembled members.

[shelagh]

Went up to North Lancs Group of AGS last Thursday to hear a smashing talk by Darren Sleep on Cape Bulbs.  Absolutely excellent just the right mix of superb pictures, wry comments and cultural hints.  Well done Darren.

[Darren]

Went up to North Lancs Group of AGS last Thursday to hear a smashing talk by Darren Sleep on Cape Bulbs.  Absolutely excellent just the right mix of superb pictures, wry comments and cultural hints.  Well done Darren.

Thank you Shelagh! 

I very much enjoyed doing that talk too. It was great to see you and Brian there.

Halfway through the talk a young woman wandered in and sat down and even had a cup of tea afterwards. Those who tried to talk to her have reported that she seemed extremely under the influence of something (and I don't mean alcohol, or the tea). I saw her again in Lancaster yesterday, wandering up and down the aisles in Wilkinsons. Clearly I'm attracting audiences from all walks of society, and we could do with some new members..........

[ranunculus]

Another addiction for her perhaps?

[Darren]

Another addiction for her perhaps?

She was at least better behaved than one of her (male) peers who came in begging for money at a meeting last year. We really must start locking the door once the meeting starts.

[David Nicholson]

Typical Lancastrian behaviour I would have thought?

[Darren]

Typical Lancastrian behaviour I would have thought?

Not quite but becoming more typical every day sadly.

[ranunculus]

She was at least better behaved than one of her (male) peers who came in begging for money at a meeting last year. We really must start locking the door once the meeting starts.

But I only got seven pence!!!

[ quote author= David Nicholson Typical Lancastrian behaviour I would have thought? ]

Initiative, David ... Initiative!!! 

[David Nicholson]

I do believe that we should do all we can to encourage young (what am I saying!) speakers as they make their first faltering steps on the speaking circuit. It was so at our local group meeting last night when a timid youth (what am I saying again!!) from Lancashire, accompanied by a lady who insisted she was his wife but I'm absolutely certain was his daughter, entertained us with a presentation which went down rather well.    


Many thanks Cliff and Sue for trecking down here to the end of the world, it really was a cracking presentation and the images were as stunning as the gardens in the old US of A.

[ranunculus]

I do believe that we should do all we can to encourage young (what am I saying!) speakers as they make their first faltering steps on the speaking circuit. It was so at our local group meeting last night when a timid youth (what am I saying again!!) from Lancashire, accompanied by a lady who insisted she was his wife but I'm absolutely certain was his daughter, entertained us with a presentation which went down rather well.    


Many thanks Cliff and Sue for trecking down here to the end of the world, it really was a cracking presentation and the images were as stunning as the gardens in the old US of A.

... And many thanks to you and your excellent group David ... not only for the wonderful hospitality, but also for the fine words above  ... and my daughter sends her thanks as well. 

[David Shaw]

Hard hitting, telling it as it is, clear and to the point! Climate Change and its effect on alpine plants. If you have the courage to listen to proof of what is happening to our climate and its likely ongoing effect on our addiction then I recommend you group asks Mike Kendall from Nairn to bring you the talk he gave to the Moray Group last night. Mike is a marine biologist working on the effect of climate change in the oceans but he is also an observant mountaineer and plant lover. Combining these two interests he gave us his interpretation of how things have changed and what may happen over the next fifty years or so. I don't think that I heard anything new but it was presented in such a clear and concise manner that it far surpassed any presentation I have heard before. Probably not a talk for groups that come to meetings for some pretty pictures and a cup of tea, though.

[fermi de Sousa]

The new Australian prime minister has closed the Climate Change Commission and believes that it's all bunk. The fact that Australia is a major producer/exporter of coal has nothing to do with it apparently
As Bill Cosby said in his "Noah" sketch when asked what should you do if you can't get on the Ark "How long can you tread water?"
cheers
fermi

[mark smyth]

Has anyone heard Carl Wright from the Burren?

[David Nicholson]

Yup, entertaining speaker.