A BRIEF HISTORY of FRAMFIELD & BLACKBOYS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

The history of the Society is a rather sketchy one. We have tried to put together as much information as we can, but if anyone has anything they could share with us we would love to be able to improve our knowledge.

It is quite probable that the Framfield and Blackboys Horticultural Society existed before WW2 but we have no details. It wasn’t until a public meeting on 17th March 1967 that a new committee was put together to restart the Society. The Chairman was Bill Briault from ‘Beckets’ in Framfield along with Honorary Secretary Miss N.H. Stapley from Sunny Hleow, Framfield and Treasurer Mr R.A. Wake from Willow Cottages, Gun Road, Blackboys.

The show date was arranged for August 12th at Framfield Village Hall and school and the President was Mrs Eve Fisher from New Place. Entries to the show were limited to persons resident in the Parish and for this show there were 74 Classes and 7 Cups. Amongst the cups were the Henry cup given by The Henry family lived at Bridgelands, Gatehouse Lane, Framfield before WW2. Another was the Martin Berry Cup donated by Joanna Hawker (Nigel Drews grandmother) and named after the village postman who had a bright and cheerful garden that she always enjoyed.Membership fees in 1967 were 2/6d or 4/-d for a husband and wife. Entrance fees were 3d per class for members and Prize money amounted to 1st 5/-, 2nd 3/-, 3rd 2/-.

In the early years there was a shortage of equipment. There were no tables at first until the Army camp at Maresfield was moving away and was disposing of some. For many years the vases for the floral entries were borrowed from a Mr Dunk in Hailsham. In 1977 a donation from Nigel Drews mother allowed the Society to buy the metal vases that are still been used today.

In 1978 a Spring Show was added but it only lasted 7 years. The Dog show was added to the Summer show in 1996 and is still very popular.