In 1953, as the East coast of England was flooded, the Thornton Cleveleys Horticultural Society committee were meeting once per month. The Society introduced ‘Patrons’ as a concept to the organisation. Patrons were being invited to subscribe to the Show funds. Thornton Cleveleys Parks Department were invited to put on a display in the show marquee and Blackpool Parks Department were to put a display on the stage.
The first lecture was on October 20th and was a film show on Fruit Trees, Greenhouse Pests and Control. Thirty people were attended. Mr W H Crane was Chairman this year. The November lecture was on Bulbs and was attended by 24 people.
The 1954 AGM was held on February 30th and finished with a Hot Pot supper. Mr Ernest Lord was elected Chairman and Mrs E Hewitt, President.
The Show this year (1954) was on Wednesday and Thursday August 18th /19th and was the thirteenth annual show in the Lecture Hall and adjoining marquees. This year the Council wanted 1s-6d per table for the show; we needed 70 tables at 4′ x 2’6″ and the list of trophies now totalled 17. Members subs were 1/- The Trade Hut opened at 2pm on January 8th. Hire charges for the Lecture Hall were £1-11s-6d per day and the September lecture on Chrysanthemums was attended by 20 people.
In 1955, Dr Houston was elected President at the AGM on December 7th and Mr J A Turner was elected Vice Chairman. In April of this year, Mr T. Croft and Mr F. Thornton were joint show Managers but by November Mr T G Triggs was to be show manager. The annual coach trip was to WEBB Nurseries, in Kendal.
Committee minutes from 1957 mentioned that a quotation for tables was £1-5s-0d per table. A committee trio were given £20 to spend. A subcommittee for arranging lectures was formed naturally called the ‘Lecture committee’. The figure to cover fees and sleeping accommodation was increased to £10. This year, members subs also increased to 2/-
Six lectures were arranged for between October and March 1958. In the December AGM, the rules of the society were formulated into 15 sections and a recognised constitution was approved. The show made £15 profit this year, and the Ladies committee were still holding Coffee Mornings to raise funds.
Thornton Cleveleys Horticultural Society 