Meet the DGS
Julia Rouse
Chair
I have been a member of DGS for many years and joined the committee to help organise interesting and fun events for the members. I enjoy visiting the gardens of my local friends as well as RHS and open gardens, appreciating the beauty wherever I go. My main interest is in gardening for wildlife which needs our help more than ever!
Fiona Hogg
Treasurer
I am a very new member of the committee, having only joined at the end of last year, although I have been a member of the DGS for several years. I only have a small garden but I grow as many flowers and vegetables as possible. My favourite flowers are daffodils and clematis.
Alison Veale
Secretary
I have been secretary of the DGS for many years (too many to remember!) and enjoy spending time in my garden and in the greenhouse. I like visiting flower shows especially RHS Tatton and RHS Malvern Spring Show. Auriculas are my all-time favourite flowers.
Helen Burgess-Allen
Hello, I'm Helen, I've been on the DGS committee for several years. I'm in charge of publicity and you may see one of my posters around the village on the noticeboards. I love grasses, hostas and growing tomatoes, which always taste better than shop bought ones.
Andy McColm
I've just recently joined the DGS committee as trips organiser but I have been a member for many years. Despite having a fairly wild and overgrown garden, I try to grow as many vegetables as possible- especially courgettes, squashes and beans - with varying success. My main interest is my greenhouse where I grow tomatoes, chillies and grapes along with several potted plants.
Sylvia Sparrow
I have been a member and committee member for many years. Gardening is one of my passions along with my love of animals.
Alex Scott
I have been a member of the committee for over six years, the exact number I couldn’t say. I am a vegetable grower; love growing tomatoes and always have a new variety to try every year thus adding to quite a range of favourite varieties. I do the same with chillies and love my raised bed. Carrots and lettuce etc are so much nicer without uninvited protein. I love growing plants from cuttings, so satisfying to grow a plant from a snip. I make cakes for our special meetings and mince pies and a fruit cake for the raffle at Christmas. You will probably see me assisting Helen on club nights with serving refreshments.
Ken Thompson - President
I was Chairman of the Downley Gardening Society for 17 years prior to becoming President. During my time as Chairman the Society flourished. I enjoy many aspects of gardening especially growing new varieties of tomatoes. Over the last few years I have exhibited my floral art displays in our annual autumn show with a good degree of success!