The History of Rayleigh Horticultural Society
14 High Street, Rayleigh
In 1990 my late father , Wally Raw , was asked to write a history of Rayleigh Horticultural Society for the 1991 Year Book for what was then thought to be our 50th Anniversary.
Since then other items have been passed on to the Society and it appears that RHS is much older than that.
In 1995 I was helping with Rayleigh County Primary School Centenary and found in the school log books the following 2 entries :-
July 18 1932 The Rayleigh Horticultural Society used the school for their annual show on Saturday last. The paintwork and distemper on wall at girls end of corridor was badly chipped by the planks as they were brought out in the evening after the display.
July 17 1933 The Rayleigh Horticultural Society held its annual show on Saturday 15th and a considerable amount of needlework, knitting, cardboard modelling and other handwork was exhibited by the children and a number of prizes awarded.
Then recently we were given a photocopy of a Schedule for Rayleigh & District Horticultural Society for the eighth annual exhibition on Wednesday July 28th 1909 !
So for over 100 years the gardeners of Rayleigh have been exhibiting their vegetables , flowers etc. But from the classes listed in the 1909 schedule things have changed a lot since then. It is divided into different sections depending on your “status” -
A: cottagers
B: amateurs who do not employ a gardener
C: Gentlemen’s gardeners only
D: Table decoration etc - for ladies.
E: open
F: open for Raleigh & district only.
The last division has some classes which are no longer in our schedule - eg the Best Trussed chicken and Fresh Butter, along with the more usual flowers ,fruit and vegetables.
The committee then included Mr E P Rand who in 1941 was our President and the headmaster of the Boys school , Mr Vickers ,was the Hon. Secretary.
It does not say where the show was held but the Rayleigh Brass Band was in attendance.
We have since 1941 held shows in Crown Hall (now Crown Heights flats) Methodist church hall ,Castle Hall and in a marquee in King Georges Playing field( when the Summer show was part of the Town Show).
If you have any photos from old shows or other memories I would love to see them - please bring them along to any club night or Show. I hope to have some photos & bits from our “archives” on display at future shows , starting with Autumn show 2008.