We were saddened to hear of the death of one of our honourary Life members, Mr Jack Gilbert.
Jan and Lynne Dalton share their memories.
It was with great sadness that we learned of Jack’s passing in August, and though we only met up at shows and mutual friends funerals, we became good friends ourselves and had many chats and exchanged letters over the years. Something most of us do as travelling exhibitors around the country.
I first met Jack when Lynne and I attended The Daffodil Society’s Annual Show in 1974(virtually 50 years ago) when it was held at Monkspath, Stratford Road,
Solihull, on the front lawn of the Sydenham-Notcutts Garden Centre that stood adjacent to the A34 Birmingham to Stratford-on-Avon main road. The garden centre was situated on the same site that Robert Sydenham, our founder, established his plant nursery over 120 years earlier! Hence the name Sydenham-Notcutts Garden Centre!
It was here that Jack Gilbert, Horace Goodwin and Clive Postles, all members and Black Country friends in the Stourbridge Chrysanthemum Society, staged their multi-winning daffodil exhibits in the ‘Societies Class’ over many years in the 1970’s and 80’s.(Some entries in the name of Colley Gate H.S. or Halesowen H.S.).
Jack was a Master Butcher by trade and a first class grower and exhibitor of chrysanthemums and daffodils. Indeed, Jack became a pioneer and master of producing early daffodils for the RHS Westminster Early Daffodil Competition, by his skilful manipulation of their flowering times using cold and warm temperature environments to have the flowers at their peak on show day.
If my memory serves me well, one of the three Midland Societies mentioned above, hosted The Daffodil Society’s AGM in 1973 at their local headquarters. The meeting was held, followed by a talk by Guest Speaker, John Lea of Dunley Hall, another prominent ‘local’ daffodil exhibitor and hybridist. Following the talk, a buffet was provided by Jack, with pies etc. from his own shop. Some weeks later it transpired that Jack had not been paid for the food he had provided for the AGM, this being a cost of some £23.00. As it was not possible to clear this account due to the Treasurer’s books being audited, the Committee of the day agreed to make Jack an Honorary Life Member in recompense for providing the buffet, the annual subscription to be a member of the Society at that time being £1.00! Jack was happy with the arrangement and spent the next 50 years as an incognito Honorary Life Member, as his elevation was never recorded or carried forward in print anywhere!
That said,Jack was a great supporter of the Society and the shows for many years and along with Horace, Clive, Jim Pearce, Ralph White, Ernie Darlow the Noakes brothers and a few other ‘locals’, kept the flag flying in the area where the Society first came into existence. Jack outlived his friends and fellow enthusiasts from the Midlands but they and he will be remembered with great fondness for keeping the Society going when it needed support.
On behalf of the Society, we send our warmest wishes and condolences to Jack’s family and friends.
Jan & Lynne Dalton.