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The Eastcote Horticultural Society has been assisting local gardeners for over 80 years. In 2020 the Society celebrated 80 years since it was founded. It is a not-for-profit community organisation run solely by volunteers for the benefit of our members. The proceeds from trading contribute towards our shows and hut maintenance.
It was formed at a time when "grow your own" was an important survival tactic in the war years. 1940 saw the introduction of food rationing. The community around Eastcote and Ruislip had developed in the late 1920s "Metroland". This was when the Metropolitan Line was extended out to the green fields and meadows and people from inner London came to live here.
Large gardens and allotments encouraged folks to try home grown produce during the years when fresh fruit and vegetables were not plentiful in the local stores.
It is hoped the Society will be around for many more years to meet its aims of promoting local horticulture and supporting the gardeners in the community.
Delving into the Society's old records I have unearthed some fascinating stories. I include some documents here so more people can enjoy the history of the Society and the role it has played in the local area over the decades.
Ron Edwards was a local historian, and father to our present Chairman, Gerry Edwards. Ron wrote a history of the Society in five chapters, which were printed in the annual bulletins from 1992 - 1996.
"The History of EHS" by Ron Edwards - articles 1992 - 1996 (pdf)
Hand written notes by Ron Edwards covering the history of the Society from 1940 - 1944, plus a list of officers for this period.
Ron Edwards hand-written history up to 1944
The Society's second secretary, elected on 13 July 1941, was Mr J.S Ranger, who lived in Crescent Gardens, Eastcote. He wrote a history of the Society from 1944 to 1961. This was completed in January 1962. It was handwritten and sent to a Mrs Ward in Torbay Road, Harrow to type. The archive includes his handwritten version and the final typed copy. It is the typed version attached here.
Mr. J.S. Ranger's History of the Society 1944 - 1961 (pdf)
In the archives there are a number of notebooks of various Minutes. The most important of these is the handwritten Minute of the meeting held on Tuesday 27th August 1940 recording "that a War Time Allotment Association be formed....the Association be called The Eastcote Allotment Association."
Eastcote Allotment Association Minute Book 1940
This is the first bulletin issued by the Society and was in the style of "Allotment Notes", issued in January 1941 and written by Jack Hardy. You'll notice the Society was called The Eastcote Allotment Association at that time.
Bulletin Series 1 No. 1 January 1941 (pdf)
In this Bulletin, issued in August 1942, there is a record of the Society's founding in August 1940 and its development over the first couple of years.
Bulletin Series 2 No. 8 August 1942 (pdf)
The Bulletin from December 1942 includes the AGM report. The Society has over 700 members and is the largest in the district.
Bulletin Series 3 No. 3 December 1942 (pdf)
A Membership Form from 1943 includes the aims and objectives of the Society at that time. Membership numbers were rapidly increasing and at over 850.
Membership info 1943 (pdf)
Sue Alexander - Chair, Show Committee and Social Secretary
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