Further reading of the minutes of early committee meetings have given more interesting insights into how our society has evolved over the years.
In 1951, the Thornton Cleveleys Horticultural Society requested permission to use the Lecture Hall / Little Theatre for a series of three shows, a Baby Show on the Thursday, Friday was for Arts and Crafts, and Saturday was for Horticulture. Alas, it seems that the show went ahead as usual on Friday August 31st and Saturday September 1st, but no Baby Show this year. The Secretary at the time was Mr Gordon Stubbings.
On Saturday April 15th, The Society held an Arts & Crafts Exhibition & Spring Flower Show in the Lecture Hall (Little Theatre) admission was 1/- OAPs 6d. There were fifty-four classes covering areas such as homecraft, handicraft, needlecraft, floral art, Spring flowers and five classes for children. The show manager was Mr C W Wise.
April 20th marked the start of the Korean war. June 21st Mr Walmsley offered to put on a display of cactus 7’ x 4’, it was accepted and he was invited to join the Committee.
Mrs Pickles, wife of the celebrity Wilfred Pickles, requested £20 to open the August show, comedian Al Read the comedian was otherwise engaged. In the end, impresario Vic Oliver opened the show free of charge. There were 36 entries in class one, 15 in class two, 6 in class three and 2 in class four.
The first Annual Chrysanthemum show was held on Saturday November 8th 1952 in the Lecture Hall (Little Theatre)
Also in 1952, on January 11th, the hire of Lecture Hall for a dance was to be £3-18s-6d. The Savoy Hotel in Cleveleys wanted £18-18s-0d for a room. The Norcross Concert Party, Dance Band were to be paid £1-1s-0d for their funds. On January 22nd,it was reported in committee that the whist drive made £5-3s-0d and the dance £4.
Lynton, Lynmouth and Exmoor National Park were flooded when 11” of rain fell in 24 hours. The Trade Hut on Fleetwood Road, was officially opened on 2nd February 1952, by Earnest Lord. Homefield Road allotments were taken for building houses. Mrs T.Hewitt was elected President at the AGM. There was a whist drive arranged for February 7th at the Ashdell and February 16th in the Lennox Café; the Ladies could spend £2 on prizes.
August 29th and 30th 1952 saw an Exhibition of Horticulture & Arts & Crafts, which comprised classes in Horticulture, a Baby Show, a Bathing Beauty, Fair Amusements, Arts and Crafts, a Mannequin Parade, Bees and Honey and Caged Birds. The trophies this year were The Ingle Cup, Holt Cup, Pavilion Cup, the Lumb Cup, Oralite Cup, Kierby Cup, Eastwood and Appleyard Cup. Lots of other were prizes donated by local businesses. For the first time, the show schedule offered quarter, half and full page adverts for local businesses, a feature which continued until 1970.
Thornton Cleveleys Horticultural Society 