A short profile of the Members of the Committee of the Eastney & Milton Allotment Holders Association

Mike Simpson is the Chairman of the Committee and presides over the meetings which take place about every 6 weeks. He also works very hard liaising with the Corporation trying to get fences repaired, paths filled in and also a new water system which I believe has been going on for some years! They never have any money although the Corporation have just laid a new floor in the shop! He puts in a lot of hard work at the Autumn Show getting everything ready for the day!

John Caws has been the Treasurer for quite a number of years. He had a couple of years off when Peter Spreadbury took over. John keeps a tight ship and is careful not to overspend. He always is mindful that some money is needed in reserve for a rainy day! He has recently been trying to obtain a grant from Grassroots to help buy some new marquees for the Autumn Show

Lindsay Murday is on the Committee and helps in the shop. Most people know Lindsay who is always ready to give advice. He has had an allotment for a long time and knows just about everything about vegetables and flowers. He has won cups and trophies at the Autumn Show so many times he is giving it a rest and letting us newcomers have a chance.

Brian Forcey is the Trading Officer who organizes the shop and does all the ordering. He does a wonderful job and spends a lot of his spare time in there! What would we do without him! The shop is a focal point for newcomers to the allotments where they can buy their seeds etc. and get plenty of good advice.

Trevor Stark is the Vice Chairman and an expert in erecting tents for the Autumn Show! We are fortunate to have his expertise! Trevor organised the entrants for the produce tent in the Autumn Show for several years.

Andrew Leonard stepped in and organised the entrants for the Autumn Show and has now handed over the reins of Show Secretary to Deb Prytherch. Andrew will still be producing his excellent posters for events and has volunteered to be the Membership Secretary. He has already entered all the names of members of the Association onto the computer which will make life much easier. Andrew also sets out the layout of the Newsletter and organises this web site.

Janet Haworth - After doing a very good job of being Show Secretary, Janet has given the position over to Deb Prytherch. Janet is now organising the raffles which are held at the Plant Sale, Autumn Show, Harvest Supper and at Christmas.

Alan & Sheila Moorhouse are long serving members of the Committee (Sheila is the sister of Peter who used to be the Chairman and started the Autumn Show). Sheila and Alan run the excellent tea tent at the Autumn Show. They serve excellent home made cakes and other refreshments and are always glad of help as they get very busy!.

Gina Chambers is also a long serving member who lets the Committee hold the meetings in her house and organizes the allotment stall at the Southsea Show. She organizes the cake stall at the Autumn Show and makes lovely mince pies and cakes!

Hilary Day is our Committee Member from Hope Cottage and lets us know what is going on at the other end of the allotments. She has recently been compiling data for a grant from Grassroots which John Caws has applied for.

Alice Bird and Steve Rogers are very welcome new additions to the Committee

I am Carole Bannister, Secretary of the Committee and Editor of the Newsletter.

We are all volunteers and give of our time freely because we think it important that we have a shop as a focal point and we all help organise the Autumn Show and Plant Sale, which is a lovely way to bring in the locals. These events are instrumental in getting people together and raising the profile of the allotments. There is now a waiting list of 500 and we hope the Corporation will stamp down on the people who neglect their plots and so free them up for others.

There are a steady band of volunteers who help erect tents at the Autumn Show and help on the stalls and they can also be called on if needed which is very important to the success of events. Also a lot of plotholders give their spare produce to sell at the Autumn Show and also bric a brac, cakes and chutney etc. It all helps to make it a success!

If you would like to serve on the committee or have anything you wish to discuss come along to the AGM which takes place around the end of January each year Bransbury Park Community Centre at 7.30 pm.