Autumn has arrived and with it the rain, with the fuchsias ready to be prepared for winter.
We had the Mini Show at the end of July, which was judged by Mr. Charles Jenkinson from Barnsley and it was a very entertaining evening. The cultivar was Susan Skeen which many of you named correctly. 35 plants were judged and noted there were some standards, was this because of the Work shop held in March! I know Peter Staveley was pleased to see them. Tha standard was high with no whitefly putting in an appearance. The winners: were first Mrs. June Nash, second Mr. Joe Adams and third Mr. Stewart Walker.
Next was our event of the year, the Annual Show, and again we put on a very good show for the public with 29 members exhibiting 275 plants, with the prize money being shared between 24 exhibitors. What was disappointing it that only one member entered in the beginners classes. Think about having a go next year if you have not shown before and provide some competition. The judges Mr. Lionel Twigg and Mr. John Utley had no comments other than it was a very professionally presented show. It is the members who volunteer to help, which make this event a success and I would like to thank you all, starting with members who set up the tables, the stewards, the people supervising at the door, selling plants, tombola, raffle tickets, books and refreshments, you all seemed to enjoy yourselves as there was a really good atmosphere over the two days. Long may we keep it that way.
In November it will be our Social Evening when I hope you will join us for an enjoyable evening.
Congratulations to Carol Tindall, our librarian, on the safe arrival of a daughter, Sarah Jane, on the 21^st September, will Sarah Jane be a fuchsia grower in the future?
As this is the last Newsletter of 2001 and some members are not able to attend meetings, on behalf of the members of the Committee may I wish you all a Happy Christmas and hope to see you all again in 2002.
    Cheerio,
               Chris
Editor: Chris has also been working hard to secure the speakers for next year's monthly meetings. No mean feat this as many speakers are  committed for several years ahead. I can assure you that you will again be in for quite a treat next year. The full programme will be despatched to you in good time for our first meeting in January.
We are still awaiting a couple of confirmations before we can go to press but as an appetiser I can reveal that it includes talks about some favourite aspects of fuchsia growing for many of us.  The programme promises to give us many entertaining as well as instructive evenings to look forward to, starting with the return of Mr Peter Crowther of Eastfield Garden Centre, Bridlington on 16^th January with a talk on 'Compost, Fertilisers and Nutrients'. This is followed on 20^th  February by a visit of Mr. Douglas Stewart of Beverley, the joint presenter of Radio Humberside's The Great Outdoor, who will give us a talk about 'The Fall', featuring the glory of autumn.