South Harpenden Allotments and Gardens Society
  • About the Society
    • Who Are We? >
      • The Society's History >
        • History of Allotments and Changes in Cultivation
        • History of the Allotment Society - Early History - pre the year 2000
        • History of the Allotment Society - Recent History - 2000 Onwards
        • History of the allotments - Percy Bradbury PSF article July 1999
        • Humour at the Society
        • Our Shop
    • The Committee Of Officers & Site Reps
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      • Neglected Plots >
        • If Your Plot Needs Tidying Up
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  • News
    • S.H.A.G.S. NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2020
    • Winners of the Photo Competition 2020
    • S.H.A.G.S. Summer 2020 Newsletter
    • S.H.A.G.S. COVID -19 CORONA VIRUS POLICY
    • The Plot So Far Spring 2020
    • 50th Anniversary barbeque
    • June 2019 Newsletter
    • AGM 2019
    • The Plot So Far Spring 2019
    • AGM 2018
    • Top Street Way Working Party
    • The Plot So Far spring 2017
    • Bonfire night at Piggotshill 5th Nov 2016
    • AGM 2016
    • The Plot So Far spring 2016
    • Ryton Visit
    • Wild Flower Meadow Open day and picnic table for our members at Cross Lane
    • AGM 2015
    • The Plot So Far spring 2015 edition
    • Bug Hotel at Cross Lane is now open for bookings!
    • Threats to allotments article in the Daily Telegraph
    • Christmas Celebrations at the committee meeting on 10th December 2015
    • Sense about Science talk held on 27th September 2014
    • Eco Loo Official Opening
    • Official Opening of the Flower Meadow at Cross Lane
    • More photos of the Flower Meadow
  • Join Us
    • Contact Form
  • Our Sites & Plots
    • Site Representatives (Contact details)
    • Find Our Sites On A Map
    • Aldwickbury
    • Churchfield
    • Cross Lane
    • Harpenden Rise
    • Oakley Road
    • Piggotshill
    • Sibley Avenue
    • Topstreet Way
  • Health and Safety
    • Health and Safety Policy
    • Health and Safety Annual Site Inspection Form
    • Health and Safety Leaflet - Information for Plot-holders
    • Health and Safety Risk Assessment
    • Incident / Accident Report Form
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    • Fire Safety
    • Machinery Advice
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  • Society Awards
    • Award judging criteria
    • The 2020 Society Award Winners
    • The 2019 Society Award Winners
    • The 2019 Society awards evening prize winner photographs
    • The 2018 Society Award Winners
    • The 2018 Society awards evening prize winner photographs
    • The 2017 Society Award Winners
    • The 2017 Society Awards Evening prize winner photographs
    • The 2016 Society Award Winners
    • The 2016 Society awards evening prize winner photographs
    • The 2015 Society Award Winners
    • The 2015 society awards evening prize winner photographs
    • The 2014 Society Award Winners
    • Society Cup Winners 2014
    • The 2014 Society Awards Evening Prize Winner Photographs
    • The 2014 Awards Evening Site Photographs and slide show
    • The 2013 Society Awards Winners
    • The 2013 Society Gold Winners
    • The 2013 Society Awards Evening
  • Site Photos
    • Aldwickbury
    • Churchfield
    • Cross Lane
    • Harpenden Rise
    • Oakley Road
    • Piggotshill
    • Sibley Avenue
  • Calendar
  • Community Engagement
    • Flower Meadow photo gallery of INSECTS by Peter Wilson HPS
    • Second Flower Meadow photo gallery of INSECTS by Peter Wilson HPS July 2014
  • Useful Links
    • Guide to using chemicals
    • Wildlife on Allotments
    • Allium Leaf Miner
    • Rothamsted Research Centre, Harpenden
    • Sense about Science
    • Threats to allotments
  • Advice & Tips
    • Advice on Enjoying your Allotment
    • Turning your apples into apple juice
    • Growing Tips - Autumn and Winter
    • Other Allotment Societies
  • View Comm. Meeting Agendas and Minutes
    • AGM MINUTES >
      • 2018 AGM Minutes
      • 2017 AGM Minutes
      • 2016 AGM Minutes
      • 2015 AGM Minutes
      • 2014 AGM Minutes
      • 2013 EGM Minutes
      • 2013 AGM minutes
    • Minutes - February 2020
    • Minutes - January 2020
    • Minutes - December 2019
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    • 2018 >
      • Minutes - December 2018
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    • 2017 >
      • Minutes - December 2017
      • Agenda - December 2017
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      • Minutes - July 2017
      • Agenda - July 2017
      • Minutes - June 2017
      • Agenda - June 2017
      • Minutes - May 2017
      • Agenda - May 2017
      • Minutes - April 2017
      • Agenda - April 2017
      • Minutes - March 2017
      • Agenda - March 2017
      • Minutes - Feb 2017
      • Agenda - Feb 2017
      • Minutes - Jan 2017
      • Agenda - Jan 2017
    • 2016 >
      • Minutes - Dec 2016
      • Agenda - Dec 2016
      • Minutes - Nov 2016
      • Agenda - Nov 2016
      • Minutes - October 2016
      • Agenda - October 2016
      • Minutes - September 2016
      • Agenda - September 2016
      • Minutes - July 2016
      • Agenda - July 2016
      • Minutes - June 2016
      • Agenda - June 2016
      • Minutes - May 2016
      • Agenda - May 2016
      • Minutes - April 2016
      • Agenda - April 2016
      • Minutes - March 2016
      • Agenda - March 2016
      • Minutes - February 2016
      • Agenda - February 2016
      • Minutes - January 2016
      • Agenda - January 2016
    • 2015 >
      • Minutes - December 2015
      • Agenda - December 2015
      • Minutes - November 2015
      • Agenda - November 2015
      • Minutes - October 2015
      • Agenda - October 2015
      • Minutes - September 2015
      • Agenda - September 2015
      • Minutes - August 2015
      • Agenda - August 2015
      • Minutes - June 2015
      • Agenda - June 2015
      • Minutes - May 2015
      • Agenda - May 2015
      • Minutes - April 2015
      • Agenda - April 2015
      • Minutes - March 2015
      • Agenda - March 2015
      • Minutes - February 2015
      • Agenda - February 2015
      • Minutes - January 2015
      • Agenda - January 2015
    • 2014 >
      • Minutes - December 2014
      • Agenda - December 2014
      • Minutes - November 2014
      • Agenda - November 2014
      • Minutes - October 2014
      • Agenda - October 2014
      • Minutes - Sept 2014
      • Agenda - Sept 2014
      • Minutes - August 2014
      • Agenda - August 2014
      • Minutes - July 2014
      • Agenda - July 2014
      • Minutes - June 2014
      • Agenda - June 2014
      • Agenda - May 2014
      • Minutes - May 2014
      • Agenda - April 2014
      • Minutes - April 2014
      • Agenda - March 2014
      • Minutes - March 2014
      • Agenda - Feb 2014
      • Minutes - Feb 2014
      • Agenda - Jan 2014
      • Minutes - Jan 2014
  • Absent Friends
    • Lall Aubeeluk
    • Dorothy Mills (M.B.E.)
    • Roland Dibben
    • Tribute to Bernie Martin
    • Tribute to Lin Norman
    • Bench Dedication for Lin Norman
    • Sad passing of Ralph Martin
    • Aubrey Gibbard
  • Our Shop
    • IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOP REOPENING
    • Seed potatoes 2021
  • General Data Protection Regulations
  • Photo Competition 2020
    • The Winners of the Photo Competition 2020
    • Selection of photographs entered
    • Competition Rules
    • Instructions for uploading a photograph from a Computer
    • Instructions for uploading a photograph from a Mobile Device

The 'shop'

The idea of a Bulk Purchasing Scheme was first mooted in October 1963. That year, the only semblance of trade was the interest created in the demand for pea sticks, costing a shilling a bundle and provided by the Harpenden Urban District Council; in fact, eleven shillings was handed over that year as the total collected on the HUDC’s behalf.

 The formation of a bulk buying entity for the purpose of purchases of stock, seeds etc began to be made via HAGS – the bulk buying entity – and continued until about 1971 when SHAGS traded in its own right due to the fact that it had acquired a building on site.

 Looking through the minutes also reveals the extent to which the shop had taken off. In February, 1974 the shop had 44cwt of potato seed to sell and in 1980 there is a minute stating that Ray Pledger had resigned as Distribution Manager because of ill health but there were still 8,000 Brussels plants on order!

The first man to deal with our passing trade was Eric Russell who passed the reins on to Ray Pledger; the latter was a professional gardener who was very knowledgeable and under him trade increased. Freddie Dench, whose family managed the Plough and Harrow public House was next and he was able to hand over a ‘good ship’ to Ron Laskey whose father was on the Board of Directors at Vauxhall Luton. He and his wife made a good team although at first there was some comment about the fact that all the stewards were obliged to wear an overall coloured in the manner of workers at a Borstal Institution!

Ron boosted trade even further than most had done before: he installed a modern cash register machine and was praised for his peat stack. It was  Ron who decided to open on Friday evenings between 6pm and 8pm. He also had the humour of Cliff Hayes who had returned from illness and the skills of Aubrey Gibbard and Mick Matthews to call upon.

 Despite this, on the arrival of George Turner, who eventually became Chairman, the shop was given a makeover. Not everyone saw eye to eye with George but one had to bear in mind he was basically a good businessman who had run his own newsagents business in Willesden – at the time not a particularly soft area. It was on George’s ‘watch’ that the Ted Allen Room was built.

 George Turner had a successful spell as Distribution Manager before handing over the reins to Aubrey Gibbard. Under him the shop exceeded even Ron Laskey’s stint, the previous ‘Manager’, which was formidable.

 Aubrey Gibbard  deserves a thank you for it was Aubrey who had built up such a strong base of Associated Members that it reached over 550 at one stage.  A very large number of shop customers! In fact, word went out that Aubrey had been told to slow down otherwise there would be a ‘no’ in the Council Chamber if the Society wanted an increase in its Council Grant. At the time of his leaving the post, Aubrey’s shrewd investment in the Nursery Trades on behalf of the society paid off handsomely. There is enough money in reserve to pay for a replacement hut in the event of fire.

In 1999, the ‘Distribution Manager’ announces that for the first time in decades the shop might be in deficit. The problem was exacerbated by the fact that the numbers of Associate Members has fallen to 391 despite the hard work put in by Mick Matthews and Bob Shields.

 Roger Gillett became  the Distribution Manager after Aubrey Gibbard and today runs the shop which has a large range of seeds , bulbs, equipment and gardening sundries for our members. 

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