History

British Cactus & Succulent Society
Woking & District Branch
Founded 1951

The early years were well documented with details of branch meetings, AGM’s, committee meetings, and scrap books with entries from 1951 to the death of our founder, in September 1993, 42 years after she started our branch. Our meetings and shows are not now documented in the local press so the scrap books are now closed but they are available for members to read.

Woking branch was formed in 1951. After an advertisement was placed in the local paper by Mrs M J Marett in 1950. Prior to the formation of Woking Branch society members used to travel to the RHS hall in Vincent Square in London for the London Branch meetings. It was at one of these meetings that it was decided that Surrey had sufficient members to start a branch. Among others Mr Gordon Rowley suggested Woking as being central.

Prior to the formation of the branch local society members used to meet in each others homes to discuss plants, names, pests and to pass on information gleaned from the London Branch. The inaugural meeting of Woking Branch was held on 29th September 1951. It was held in an Assurance office in the town centre courtesy of one of the members. Although the use of the room was free, chairs had to be hired at 3d each from a local surplus store.

The society annual subscription was £1.00 and was made up as follows
4 Journals 9s 0d
4 Newsletters 2s 8d
7 Envelopes 8.75d
7 Postage Stamps 10. 5d
Subscription Receipt 0.75d
Postage Receipt 1.5d
Branch Basic Grant 1s 7d
Per capita Grant 2s 6d
7s 6.5d

Other running costs of the society including stationary, postage, membership cards, show publicity, library services, AGM and executive meeting room hire, etc. were met from the remaining 2s 5.5d. ( how times have changed ). The society did give Woking Branch £5.00 to get it started. Meetings continued at the assurance co. until 1954 when the building was pulled down for redevelopment. We then moved to the YMCA, staying until 1961when it became to noisy to hear speakers as downstairs ‘Rock n Roll’ was all the rage. 1962 saw us in Christ Church annexe much quieter but 10 years on this too was pulled down to make way for a new shopping centre. In 1973 we moved over the road to the New Christ Church Hall where in 1976 we celebrated our 25th anniversary.

At this time Mr Basil Lawrence, treasurer, Mrs May Lawrence, committee and Mrs Jean Marett, Hon Sec all founder members retired from office after 25 years continuous service.

In 1951 Jean had an arrangement with the local Woolworth manager, he told her when a delivery of cacti & succulent was expected so that branch members could get first pick. This was the only place locally where plants could be purchased.

Speakers brought plants with them instead of charging a fee. Cuttings were given to members to root and grow on for sale at flower shows for branch funds.

September 1987 we were homeless once again and moved to our current hall as more of Woking town centre was being redeveloped. The church hall site was knocked down to build a bank.

In 1987 the hire of this hall was £16.50 for 3 hours now it is £21.00.

During the years 4 branches have been launched from Woking, Reading & Basingstoke, Farnborough and Guildford & Godalming. In 1969 18 Woking members left to start Walton & Hersham which was officially wound up in 1990. In march 2007 Guildford 7 Godalming was officially wound up and merged back to Woking

Over the years our sales and displays stands have been advertising us in and around Woking during the summer months. We have put stands on at Lion Works, Brookwood Hospital, St Johns Scout Fair, Lightwater Country Fayre, Pyrford village show, Woking Market, Peacock shopping centre, TSB Bank window, Pirbright village show, West End Village show, Longacres Nursery, Newlands Corner, Jackman’s garden centre, The Great Garden Show at Loseley house and Egham Royal Show.  In 2007 we were awarded a gold for our stands at both 'The Great garden Show' at Loseley House and Egham Royal show.

In the early days of the branch members, would use public transport for outings and to visit other members collections locally with the very occasional trip by coach. Later on cars became the norm. For a few years we were having an annual coach outing courtesy of Jean but then due to lack of numbers we have once again resorted back to cars.

Over the years Woking had only three hon sec’s, Jean Marett 1951-1976, Jim Liney 1976- 1979 and Trevor Jackman 1979 to date but have had 14 chairpersons. The additional listing show all branch officers from the inaugural meeting to the 2001 AGM.

Around 1990 I approached the society nominating Jean for The Robert Holt ‘Meritorious Award’. This is a society award only awarded for outstanding services to the society. This was presented to her by Tom Jenkins at Uxbridge University in 1992 after 40 years continuous membership of Woking Branch.

Membership started in 1951 at 26, rising to 73 in 1956 then gradually falling but peaking again in 1978 at 76. It then fell drastically to an all time low of 26 in 1980. At the 50th anniversary in 2001 it was 37.

The format for meetings summer shows etc remains very much as it was in 1951. Society has changed resulting in the demise of many clubs and similar activities. We are continually updating to attract and keep new members.

TGJ October 2007