skipton gardeners club - a potted history

• Formation of Skipton & District Allotment Holders' Association at a meeting held in Broughton Road Youth Club on 31 May 1978, subscriptions 50p per member.
• By February 1979, membership had risen to 68.
• The first of many fund-raising coffee mornings and cake stalls.
• A demonstration on flower arranging marked a turning point, the first talk of a non-vegetable nature.
• To reflect the wide range of horticultural interests among members, the name was changed to Skipton Gardeners Club.
• Mr Fattorini elected President of the club.  During 1979, membership rose to 100 and the show proved to be a success with exhibitors.
• November 1979 saw a change of meeting venue to the Old Folks Rest Centre on Swadford Street.
• In 1980 a local garage was purchased and a shop established for members to purchase supplies of compost and fertiliser at discounted prices.
• The club agreed to participate in planting up window boxes at the old peoples' home in Otley Road.
• At the 1980 AGM membership stood at 130.  Life membership was introduced, at a cost equivalent to ten times the annual subscription.
• The 1981 show schedule attracted a total of 820 entries and an increase in membership to 163.
• By 1982 membership stood at 200 and at the AGM a formal club constitution was adopted.
• 1983 saw a broadening of the club's influence when Grassington District Horticultural Club and Embsay & Craven Fuchsia and Geranium Society were accepted as affiliates at a fee of £2.
• A club dinner was held at the Devonshire Hotel in Skipton on 25 February and attended by 36 members and guests.
• During 1983 membership numbers increased to 295, with 34 life members.  The shop successfully processed over 13 tonnes of materials.
• The club entered the inter-society dahlia show at the 1984 Liverpool Flower Festival, gaining a very creditable third prize.
• 1985 subscriptions were increased to £1 per member to supplement club funds.  Trips to local gardens were initiated.
• A Spring Mini Show for members was inaugurated in 1993 and proved very popular with exhibits of spring bulbs and pot plants.
• Skipton, Embsay, Grassington and Addingham (SEGA) garden clubs joined forces and invited high profile speakers to the area.  In 2000, a highly entertaining talk by Alan Titchmarsh attracted over 400 people and at an evening with plantsman Roy Lancaster 300 people were in attendance.  Both events were hosted by the Hanover Hotel in Skipton.
• 2008 saw a change of meeting venue to the Soroptimist Club Rooms on Otley Street.
• Rex Geldard elected President of the club in 2011.