THE HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY
Totton and District Gardeners’ Society was founded in 1954 allegedly as the result of a conversation between the late Bill Ireland and the late Cyril Haysom. Bill was a well known and respected Totton resident and at that time was involved with the organisation of the Horticultural Show which formed part of the then annual Eling Fair. From 1954 the show was organised by the Society until Eling Fair ceased in 1970.
The Society originally met in St. Mary’s Hall, where it ran an Autumn Show. Later, when the Totton & District Three Score Club was built, the Society moved there and has continued to hold monthly meetings and shows at that location until the present time. After the demise of the Eling Fair, the Society started a Summer Show and some years later elevated the evening Spring Show to full day status. All three shows are open shows and continue to attract exhibitors from a wide area. For many years the Committee met at Bill and Rose Ireland’s house, a familiar sight along the north side of the A35, Totton By-Pass, but now occupied by the premises of Linden Homes.
The Society organises a variety of social events including day trips and long weekend visits to places of horticultural interest. The Society is affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society, the Daffodil Society and the Hampshire Federation of Horticultural Societies and has for many years entered a quiz team in the Federation’s quiz competition and continues to do so to this day.
Our current President, Mrs Vera Blundell, is the daughter of the Society’s first President, the late Cyril Haysom. The second President was Vera’s late husband, Harold, something of a record maybe; all Presidents serving during the Society’s existence have been from the same family.
The Society continues to flourish and the monthly meetings regularly attract attendances in excess of 80 members and visitors. The Committee and Sub-committees are made up of enthusiastic members who work hard to make sure that the TDGS remains a thriving horticultural society, long may it continue.
Principal Officers since the Society was formed have been:
PRESIDENTS CHAIRPERSONS
Mr C Haysom 1954 - 1963 Mr R Broomfield 1954 - 1974
Mr H Blundell 1964 - 1993 Mr J Edsall 1975 - 1987
Mrs V Blundell 1994 - Present Miss D D Parrott 1988 - 1990
Mr J D Raffle 1991 - 1993
H O N O R A R Y S E C R E T A R I E S Mr R A Wright 1994 - 1996
Mr W E Ireland 1954 – 1976 Mr P L Joyner 1997 - 2020
Mr J D Raffle 1977 – 1989
Mr D J Fisher 1990 – 1994 HONORARY TREASURERS
Mr R J Grier 1995 – 2002 Mr R W Batley 1954 - 1960
Mr R A Wright 2003 – 2005 Mr Millard 1961 - 1970
Mrs M Bryant 2006 – 2009 Mr R Aslet 1971 - 2001
Mr C Scally 2010 – 2013 Mrs F Sutton 2002 - Present
Mr D Fulker 2014 - Present
Totton and District Gardeners’ Society was founded in 1954 allegedly as the result of a conversation between the late Bill Ireland and the late Cyril Haysom. Bill was a well known and respected Totton resident and at that time was involved with the organisation of the Horticultural Show which formed part of the then annual Eling Fair. From 1954 the show was organised by the Society until Eling Fair ceased in 1970.
The Society originally met in St. Mary’s Hall, where it ran an Autumn Show. Later, when the Totton & District Three Score Club was built, the Society moved there and has continued to hold monthly meetings and shows at that location until the present time. After the demise of the Eling Fair, the Society started a Summer Show and some years later elevated the evening Spring Show to full day status. All three shows are open shows and continue to attract exhibitors from a wide area. For many years the Committee met at Bill and Rose Ireland’s house, a familiar sight along the north side of the A35, Totton By-Pass, but now occupied by the premises of Linden Homes.
The Society organises a variety of social events including day trips and long weekend visits to places of horticultural interest. The Society is affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society, the Daffodil Society and the Hampshire Federation of Horticultural Societies and has for many years entered a quiz team in the Federation’s quiz competition and continues to do so to this day.
Our current President, Mrs Vera Blundell, is the daughter of the Society’s first President, the late Cyril Haysom. The second President was Vera’s late husband, Harold, something of a record maybe; all Presidents serving during the Society’s existence have been from the same family.
The Society continues to flourish and the monthly meetings regularly attract attendances in excess of 80 members and visitors. The Committee and Sub-committees are made up of enthusiastic members who work hard to make sure that the TDGS remains a thriving horticultural society, long may it continue.
Principal Officers since the Society was formed have been:
PRESIDENTS CHAIRPERSONS
Mr C Haysom 1954 - 1963 Mr R Broomfield 1954 - 1974
Mr H Blundell 1964 - 1993 Mr J Edsall 1975 - 1987
Mrs V Blundell 1994 - Present Miss D D Parrott 1988 - 1990
Mr J D Raffle 1991 - 1993
H O N O R A R Y S E C R E T A R I E S Mr R A Wright 1994 - 1996
Mr W E Ireland 1954 – 1976 Mr P L Joyner 1997 - 2020
Mr J D Raffle 1977 – 1989
Mr D J Fisher 1990 – 1994 HONORARY TREASURERS
Mr R J Grier 1995 – 2002 Mr R W Batley 1954 - 1960
Mr R A Wright 2003 – 2005 Mr Millard 1961 - 1970
Mrs M Bryant 2006 – 2009 Mr R Aslet 1971 - 2001
Mr C Scally 2010 – 2013 Mrs F Sutton 2002 - Present
Mr D Fulker 2014 - Present
