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.
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.
