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AGM

ANNUAL REPORT OF CHAIR OF GRAYSHOTT GARDENERS 12^th NOVEMBER 2025

2025 has been a busy and successful year for Grayshott Gardeners, and I would like to thank the Committee and all our volunteers who work to support the Club and deliver our wide range of activities.

Gordon and Judith Rae once again donated Snowdrops, which were sold at the January and February Club nights. This was the last year that Gordon and Judith will be providing Snowdrops, and I would like to thank them both for doing this for over 15 years.

Thanks to the efforts of our Programme Secretary Sue Wheeler, we had a varied and interesting series of speakers at Club Nights, which was reflected in the support from members with the average attendance being 82.

We are grateful to the speakers who permit us to video their presentations and enable members to replay these and take notes or catch up if they missed the meeting. This year the average viewings have been 50 per meeting.

In March we organised a coffee morning for members who had joined in the last 12 months which was very successful and enabled people to meet others. Thanks to Carmen Harvey-Browne and Alan and Pamela Wright for their help on the day and to Jane Jones for serving the tea, coffee and cake.

Both the Spring Show in April and Summer Show in July were a great success with 208 entries at the Spring Show, 256 entries at the Summer Show and a total of 124 members and 154 visitors attending. Our thanks go to Pamela Wright and her committee of Anne Waddell, Judith Rae, Karen Cozens, Liz Munson, Amanda Dowden and Sue Erler, plus all the helpers who set up the hall then helped clean up after each show. With thanks also to our members who entered – without your commitment there wouldn’t have been a show. Pamela Wright has stepped down from the main committee but will continue as Shows Co-ordinator. Thanks to Pamela for her contribution to the main committee.

Jan Bebbington had her arm twisted and once again took up the mantle of Plant Sales Coordinator (off committee) and organised the Plant Sale in May, so our grateful thanks go to Jan and all members who provided plants, helped with the stalls and those who bought them! In May a Plant Sales Committee was formed to support Jan and to help find a successor as Co-ordinator. The members are Liz Brown, Alan Wright and myself, although Liz stepped down in July. Thanks to the Shows Committee who organised the plant sale at the Spring Show and the newly formed Plant Sales Committee who organised the plant sale at the Summer Show. Jan would like to stand down as Plant Sales Co-ordinator but will stay on until a replacement is found.

Our Events Co-ordinator, Carmen Harvey-Browne organised two David Hurrion Grow Your Own Cut Flowers workshops in May which were attended by 22 members. This was followed in September by two Garden Design Workshops that were attended by 26 members.

In June we visited the wonderful Old Vicarage in Frensham which included tea and cake and was enjoyed by 35 members.

In July, 21 of us visited Pepperpot Nursery where we had a guided tour showing the workings of a commercial nursery.

In September we went by coach to Wisley where we had a two-hour guided tour and lunch in a private room. This was thoroughly enjoyed by 19 members.

Thanks to Carmen for all her hard work in organising these events. Four events are already planned for 2026, and full details will be available in the January Newsletter and booking forms will be available at Club Nights from January onwards.

Our activities were supported by our sponsors, Stonehill Automotives and Homes Estate Agents who have both agreed to continue their sponsorship in 2026.

Our new Membership Secretary, Carmen Harvey-Browne has done an excellent job with everything running seamlessly and thanks to Jane Jones for a comprehensive handover and  support early on. Membership numbers this year are 225 – two up on last year. In that time 38 chose not to renew but we have welcomed 40 new members.

Jane Jones once again took on the role of refreshments co-ordinator and many thanks to her and her team of helpers who provide the free refreshments that are available each Club Night and workshops and those sold at the Spring and Summer Shows that contribute to Club funds. Jane has indicated that she would like to step down from this role but will continue until a replacement is found. If you are interested in taking on this role, please speak to Jane.

Janet and John Hall have done brilliantly again running the raffles and many thanks to them for doing this valuable task which has contributed to Club funds. Prizes are often donated by members, so any unwanted gifts are always welcome!

Alan Wright has done another excellent job as Treasurer dealing with cash, cheque, card and bank transfer receipts and payments. His annual report details the financial outcomes for the Plant Sales and raffles.

My thanks to Paula Clow who filled the role of Secretary this year and to Eda Hughes who updates the website with reports of the talks at each Club Night.

Special thanks to Karen Cozens for her amazing work producing the handbook, monthly newsletter, posters and other comms related tasks.

Thanks to John Price who continues to be the Club Photographer and making the videos of Club nights (with each speaker’s permission).

The Committee is 7 strong for next year. Off committee, Jan Bebbington is standing down as Plant Sales Co-ordinator, and this is a vacancy that we urgently need to fill given the valuable contribution that plants sales make to club finances. Jane Jones is also standing down as Refreshments Co-ordinator, another important post that needs to be filled.

You will appreciate that the Club can only survive with the generous time given by volunteers, both on and off the Committee.

I would like to repeat my thanks to all our current volunteers who work behind the scenes to support the Club. Many find it rewarding and an opportunity to make new friends. If you would like to volunteer, there are many opportunities to do so without necessarily having to join the Committee or committing yourself on a regular basis. For example – helping occasionally in the kitchen with refreshments, helping with the sign-in table or the programme board.  Maybe to help with one of our plant sales. The more people we have the more we can share the load and provide for our Club members.

Please talk to any of the committee members at a future Club Night if you are interested or email me at Chair@grayshottgardeners.net

The Committee for 2026 is:

Gordon Rae – President

Graham Harvey-Browne – Chairman and Sponsorship

Alan Wright – Treasurer

Paula Clow – Secretary

Carmen Harvey-Browne – Membership Secretary and Events Co-ordinator

Sue Wheeler – Programme Secretary

Karen Cozens – Communications

Non-Committee Roles:

Jan Bebbington – Plant Sales

Jane Jones – Refreshments

Pamela Wright – Shows Coordinator

Vacancies:

Plant Sales

Refreshments

Please join me in congratulating this team, on their determination to maintain the club’s structure as we look longer term to a full team on or off committee.

Thank you.

Graham Harvey-Browne, Chairman