Peter Stevenson and pauline Payne
Sadly, the winter has seen the loss of two of the Society’s long-time supporters. Just before Christmas 2022 we heard of the death of Peter Stevenson, and then, at the beginning of January 2023, that of Pauline Payne.
Peter Stevenson.
Peter was a plot holder and site rep at our Churchfield site for many years. He was a very good gardener, regularly winning the Best Allotment prize for the Churchfield site. He grew lots of soft fruit, his favourite being delicious juicy, golden raspberries.
Peter was a very kind person, cheerful, very well organised, and always ready to lend a hand. Willing to trek round with HTC on their annual inspection and help to judge the society’s annual competition, when we trudged round for hours, often soaked to the skin, but, true to form he remained cheerful throughout. Occasional Sundays he would work in the shop. It was always nice to walk up the drive and hear his clear, but gentle voice, greeting and laughing with the customers.
When I joined the society in 1994 Peter was Lettings Secretary. Very soon I was invited to join the committee. We met in the musty shed that passed as the committee room, so full of all sorts of bits and pieces, there was just about room for the chairs. The allotment world was still very much a man’s world so, as a (relatively) young woman, I was somewhat of a rarity. With his friendly, kind personality Peter took me under his wing. A couple of years later encouraging me to take over as Letting Secretary when he became the Treasurer. The notes he passed on to me about the Letting Secretary position were copious, and all in the smallest of handwriting. Peter took this very conscientious attitude through to his work as Treasurer, always having exact facts and figures at his fingertips ready for committee meetings.
At the 2003 A.G.M, he resigned as Treasurer, but continued as Churchfield site rep until 2005. Peter kept his allotment for quite a few years after that, until he felt that he was unable to look after it as well as he would like. I stayed in touch with him and his wife, Barbara, until her death in October 2022, and of course his in December 2022.
A lovely couple and wonderful allotment friends!
Pauline Payne
One of my first signings as Letting Secretary was to a newly retired couple, Pauline, and Joe Payne. They were very keen, taking a plot on our Piggottshill site.
Pauline proved to be a person of many talents. She and Joe soon sorted out their plot. Amongst other things they planted a row of delicious blackberries, and later made an orchard plot. Every year Pauline had a battle to keep the birds off her heavily laden cherry tree; every year the battle got harder as the tree grew bigger!
Pauline helped in whichever way she could, supporting Joe and supporting the society. She helped organise many social occasions including summer barbeques, bonfire nights and others in between. Not forgetting the Society’s 40th Anniversary celebrations in 2009 of course!
In 2007, HTC were just starting the Farmers’ Market in the lower high street and offered us a stall. A S.H.A.G.S. group formed to respond and Pauline, as usual, was there, ready to pitch in. Collecting, and preparing the donated produce took a long time. Then on Market Day, transporting it, laying out the stall, selling the goods, followed of course by clearing it all away. It was a major operation. There is a lovely picture of Pauline and some of the team in the Summer 2009 edition of Plot So Far.
Having failed to fill the post at the A.G.M., 2011 sees Pauline step into the role of Machinery Manager. Not able to do the actual repairs herself, she was great at organising Tim Wall to collect and repair the machines at his Welwyn Garden City workshop. Pauline carried on the role until the A.G.M. in 2014, when, I’m sure much to her relief, someone else stepped in.
Over the years the Annual Awards Evening had become a grander affair. H.T.C. offered us use of the Park Hall for the evening to accommodate the increased number of attendees. This also meant organising more food and drink, so a catering team was assembled. Who was leading it? You’ve guessed.
Thank you, Pauline, for everything.
Obituaries written by Chris Wilson
Peter Stevenson.
Peter was a plot holder and site rep at our Churchfield site for many years. He was a very good gardener, regularly winning the Best Allotment prize for the Churchfield site. He grew lots of soft fruit, his favourite being delicious juicy, golden raspberries.
Peter was a very kind person, cheerful, very well organised, and always ready to lend a hand. Willing to trek round with HTC on their annual inspection and help to judge the society’s annual competition, when we trudged round for hours, often soaked to the skin, but, true to form he remained cheerful throughout. Occasional Sundays he would work in the shop. It was always nice to walk up the drive and hear his clear, but gentle voice, greeting and laughing with the customers.
When I joined the society in 1994 Peter was Lettings Secretary. Very soon I was invited to join the committee. We met in the musty shed that passed as the committee room, so full of all sorts of bits and pieces, there was just about room for the chairs. The allotment world was still very much a man’s world so, as a (relatively) young woman, I was somewhat of a rarity. With his friendly, kind personality Peter took me under his wing. A couple of years later encouraging me to take over as Letting Secretary when he became the Treasurer. The notes he passed on to me about the Letting Secretary position were copious, and all in the smallest of handwriting. Peter took this very conscientious attitude through to his work as Treasurer, always having exact facts and figures at his fingertips ready for committee meetings.
At the 2003 A.G.M, he resigned as Treasurer, but continued as Churchfield site rep until 2005. Peter kept his allotment for quite a few years after that, until he felt that he was unable to look after it as well as he would like. I stayed in touch with him and his wife, Barbara, until her death in October 2022, and of course his in December 2022.
A lovely couple and wonderful allotment friends!
Pauline Payne
One of my first signings as Letting Secretary was to a newly retired couple, Pauline, and Joe Payne. They were very keen, taking a plot on our Piggottshill site.
Pauline proved to be a person of many talents. She and Joe soon sorted out their plot. Amongst other things they planted a row of delicious blackberries, and later made an orchard plot. Every year Pauline had a battle to keep the birds off her heavily laden cherry tree; every year the battle got harder as the tree grew bigger!
Pauline helped in whichever way she could, supporting Joe and supporting the society. She helped organise many social occasions including summer barbeques, bonfire nights and others in between. Not forgetting the Society’s 40th Anniversary celebrations in 2009 of course!
In 2007, HTC were just starting the Farmers’ Market in the lower high street and offered us a stall. A S.H.A.G.S. group formed to respond and Pauline, as usual, was there, ready to pitch in. Collecting, and preparing the donated produce took a long time. Then on Market Day, transporting it, laying out the stall, selling the goods, followed of course by clearing it all away. It was a major operation. There is a lovely picture of Pauline and some of the team in the Summer 2009 edition of Plot So Far.
Having failed to fill the post at the A.G.M., 2011 sees Pauline step into the role of Machinery Manager. Not able to do the actual repairs herself, she was great at organising Tim Wall to collect and repair the machines at his Welwyn Garden City workshop. Pauline carried on the role until the A.G.M. in 2014, when, I’m sure much to her relief, someone else stepped in.
Over the years the Annual Awards Evening had become a grander affair. H.T.C. offered us use of the Park Hall for the evening to accommodate the increased number of attendees. This also meant organising more food and drink, so a catering team was assembled. Who was leading it? You’ve guessed.
Thank you, Pauline, for everything.
Obituaries written by Chris Wilson