British Iris Society Lecture Day and AGM – Saturday 16 September, 2023

Lamport Hall, Lamport, Northamptonshire NN6 9HD

This is the Society’s 100th AGM so we will be celebrating in style! The Trustees of Lamport Hall have kindly allowed us the use their facilities and what a prestigious building it is.  We are also very fortunate in securing two speakers, who will be offering us a diverse range of talks.

Jos Smit  -grows and breeds 250 acres of flower bulbs in Holland. His talk will include his personal experience as well as his work on supporting sustainable and environmentally conscious cultivation of bulbs. JUB Bulbs who he works for have had the royal warrant in the Netherlands since 2010 and they also supply RHS gardens, RBG Kew as well as many other famous gardens.

Kit Strange - many of you will know Kit from her involvement in the Alpine Garden Society and her work in the Alpine department at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Kit has travelled extensively in her search for plants and has a passionate interest in the Iridaceae. Her talk will include some of the iris she has seen growing in Turkey, including several juno irises.

 

The AGM will be achieved as briefly as possible, so we can enjoy the talks and of course the stunning garden which surrounds this venue. However we will commence the lecture day in the usual way with a welcome coffee.

The programme is as follows: -
10.00 Welcome coffee & biscuits
11.00 AGM
11.30 Jos Smit - ‘Bulbs - my experiences’
Buffet Lunch
2.00 Kit Strange  - ‘Treasures of Turkey’

This will be followed by afternoon tea and a guided tour of the garden by Jake Croft who is the Head Gardener and then free-time to explore further.

There is a charge of £15 per member for the Lecture Day which includes all refreshments, the talks and the garden.   Friends, if they wish to join us would also be very welcome (£20).  There will be no charge for members who wish to attend the AGM only.

Payment can either be by cheque payable to The British Iris Society and sent to:-

Chris Towers, 40 Willow Park, Otford, Sevenoaks, Kent TB14 5NF.  Or can be paid by direct bank transfer (Account No: 4036 7842 Sort Code 20-41-12 using your surname and ‘AGM’ as reference).

However, it would also be helpful if you could email me if you wish to attend and also if you have any special dietary requirements.
Email: info@britishirissociety.org.uk or 01568 720129

There is also an optional Saturday evening meal at 7.00pm in a local pub, please do let me know if you would like to join us so we can book the appropriate space.

On the Sunday we are visiting Cottesbrooke Hall Gardens, Northampton NN6 8PF which is about 10 minutes’ drive from Lamport Hall. They are opening especially for us; we will have a guided tour with the Head Gardener and tea/coffee & cake.  The cost is £30pp to include garden entrance, the tour and refreshments.   Numbers are limited so please do book early as this is an exceptional garden with many different features to enjoy.

Agenda

1. Apologies for absence
2. Minutes of the 2022 AGM (as published in the 2022 Year Book)
3. Matters arising from the Minutes
4. Reports from the Officers: Chairman, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer
5. Election of Chairman
6. Election of Executive Committee members
7. Proposal for a new Honorary Member
8. Proposal for the alteration of the constitution
9. Appointment of Independent Auditor
10. Awards for 2023
11. Any other business

Further Information