Memories sought for horticultural society’s archive

Memories of Southwick and Fishersgate Horticultural Society are sought to help build a full profile of its history for its new website. Ben Walsh has taken over as the new secretary and would welcome contributions, as he is currently gathering information for the archive.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The Southwick, Fishersgate and Kingston by Sea Allotment Holders and Gardeners’ Society was formed during the First World War. The exact date is not known but it was some time between 1914 and 1918, possibly in 1916.

The club has since been renamed Southwick and Fishersgate Horticultural Society, SFHS for short.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ben said: “An article from the Worthing Gazette dated September 4, 1895, indicates that flower shows were taking place locally in the latter part of the 19th century. At that time, it was named Aldrington, Portslade and Southwick Flower Show.

Roses on show at the Southwick and Fishersgate Horticultural Society summer show in 2007. Picture: Gerald Thompson S33264H7Roses on show at the Southwick and Fishersgate Horticultural Society summer show in 2007. Picture: Gerald Thompson S33264H7
Roses on show at the Southwick and Fishersgate Horticultural Society summer show in 2007. Picture: Gerald Thompson S33264H7

“By the early 20th century, it is clear that Southwick had put on its own flower show. In 1910, this was held in Croft Meadow, the area where Croft Avenue is situated now, as reported in the local paper. This report also stated that there had been shows in the previous four years and would therefore date the first show to 1906.”

Around the time of the First World War, people were being encouraged to have allotments to grow their own vegetables and as a result, many horticultural and allotment societies were formed across the country.

Ben said: “The Worthing Herald dated Saturday, August 26, 1922, reports extensively on the Southwick and District Horticultural and Allotment-Holders’ Society’s fourth annual vegetable, fruit and flower show.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Interestingly it was held midweek on a Wednesday, presumably in the grounds of Kingston House, then owned by Lt Gen Sir George F. Gorringe.”

Southwick and Fishersgate Horticultural Society long-standing members Julie MacCulloch, left, and Marina McCallum. Picture: Steve Robards SR2008114Southwick and Fishersgate Horticultural Society long-standing members Julie MacCulloch, left, and Marina McCallum. Picture: Steve Robards SR2008114
Southwick and Fishersgate Horticultural Society long-standing members Julie MacCulloch, left, and Marina McCallum. Picture: Steve Robards SR2008114

The Trophy Winners’ Book lists all the winners of various trophies from 1928 to date.

During the Second World War, the society championed the Dig for Victory and Grow More Food campaigns but flower gardening was not neglected. The annual shows continued throughout the war, though no prizes were awarded for any of the vegetable classes in these years.

The society was clearly going strong in 1953, if Southwick’s official Coronation programme is anything to go by. One extract states it is certain that its first annual flower show was held in 1919, although the date of the society’s formation was ‘rather obscure’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Special souvenir Coronation medals and diplomas were awarded to winners at the 35th annual summer show in August 1953 and the chrysanthemum show in November 1953.

Alasdair MacCulloch, known as Mac, with his prize winning vegetables at the autumn flower show in 2017. Photo by Derek Martin DM17103377aAlasdair MacCulloch, known as Mac, with his prize winning vegetables at the autumn flower show in 2017. Photo by Derek Martin DM17103377a
Alasdair MacCulloch, known as Mac, with his prize winning vegetables at the autumn flower show in 2017. Photo by Derek Martin DM17103377a

“Progress has been most marked since the last war,” the programme says, with membership more than doubled to around 500 people from Southwick, Fishersgate and Kingston.

In the Southwick Urban District Official Guide, published after the opening of Southwick Square in 1962, it said: “The town’s horticultural society, brimming with life and enthusiasm, has taken over the control of allotments from the council, and organises several full-scale flower shows a year.”

The hurricane during the night of October 16 and the early hours of October 17, 1987, wreaked havoc across the country. It is likely many members were affected and the scene in Upton Avenue, for example, included trees uprooted and buildings, outhouses and fences destroyed or damaged.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The society, which is affiliated to Southwick Community Centre and the Royal Horticultural Society, officially celebrated its centenary in 2018 with a party for members and a special day trip to see the gardens at RHS Wisley.

Marina McCallumMarina McCallum
Marina McCallum

Ben said: “Gardening and growing things to eat can be a hard, sometimes frustrating, but mostly satisfying pastime. It can also be great fun and being a member of SFHS can cultivate life-long friendships with plenty of laughter along the way.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has radically changed the way we all live our lives. SFHS has had to cancel all of its activities from March to December 2020. It has adapted to some extent by starting a new Facebook group in the hope of trying to keep in contact with members.

“Who knows what the future brings but SFHS will rise to the challenge and adapt and change as it always has.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Marina McCallum and her late husband Harold joined in 1964 and she has been able to donate many photographs and press cuttings to the society.

Ben said: “Their memories from when they first joined are invaluable in trying to piece together the history of the society.”

Marina and Harold were born and brought up in Halifax but moved to Southwick 57 years ago, when Harold took a job as a lecturer at Brighton Technical College.

Helen Swyer with her prize-winning fern at the autumn show in 2018. Photo by Derek Martin DM18103732aHelen Swyer with her prize-winning fern at the autumn show in 2018. Photo by Derek Martin DM18103732a
Helen Swyer with her prize-winning fern at the autumn show in 2018. Photo by Derek Martin DM18103732a

Marina said: “The old bank manager lived at the top of the road and he called one day and said ‘we need some young members’. We weren’t really ones for showing, we did all the background work, like organising trips, and Harold was chairman for 20-odd years. We did everything between us.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Marina has always loved growing things and cooking. Her granddad was a railway engineer and had a smallholding where he grew things like raspberries and gooseberries. She proudly noted that in February this year, she had 37 different things in flower in her garden.

Harold, who passed away in January last year, grew vegetables on his allotment and particularly enjoyed growing tomatoes.

Marina said: “We have got a good lot of members. We have some beautiful things on show, absolutely top quality. We have judges who come and say they have been judging all around the area and they say ‘this is the best we have seen’.”

Julie MacCulloch has also kindly dug out lots of information, including newspaper articles and photographs, and shared memories from her and her late husband Alasdair MacCulloch, known as Mac. Their membership and commitment to the club dates back more than 40 years and though they are well known on the horticultural show circuit across West Sussex, it is Southwick that was always their home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mac won many prizes over the years and Julie said he had always loved gardening, from when he was a little boy. He used to spend his pocket money buying plants in Woolworths.

It was really Mac who got Julie into gardening, starting with his allotment.

Julie said: “We grew vegetables and flowers. We did our own thing. We enjoyed it.

“They do say we are a very friendly society and I’ve always tried to make people feel welcome.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ben is particularly interested in obtaining old photos or hearing stories about the society and its members of years gone by.

He said: “Unfortunately, like so many things at the moment, our shows and other activities are on hold for the remainder of the year. During this time, SFHS would like to keep in contact with its members and obviously attract new interest.

“The very little I have found out so far is posted on the history pages of our new website, which I’m developing.

“I’ve not been able to come up with much else online yet and am waiting for the libraries to open properly so I can research their local history collections, including microfilms of local papers.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Please email [email protected] if you can provide information and visit the club’s new website at www.sfhorticultural.org

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.

Related topics: