Committee
BDHS is run by a volunteer committee who meet every month to discuss and plan events in line with the aims and objectives of the Association. This committee welcomes new ideas from members.
Committee Members
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Jackie Tommie
President -
Wendy Jenkinson
ChairWendy has inherited her love of gardening and particularly flowers from her grandmother and mother. Born in Coventry, she has enjoyed transforming gardens where-ever she has lived including Mozambique and Zambia where she worked for a charity. Her favourite flower is the Dahlia because of its form and variety of colours. She has just taken on an allotment at Westwood Heath and is making plans to grow fruit, vegetables and dahlias. She also enjoys visiting other peoples' gardens for ideas and inspiration (and tea and cake!).
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Angela Shaw
SecretaryAngela became a member of BDHS in 2012 when she retired from teaching. She was persuaded to become secretary in 2014. Her interest in gardening began in the 1970’s and she has developed her knowledge over the years. Angela enjoys working in her greenhouse and potting shed growing plants from seeds and cuttings.
In 2000 she and her husband moved to Berkswell to a one-acre garden which at that time was mostly down to lawns with no flower beds. Over the years they have developed their garden to include two sixty-foot long herbaceous flower beds, a maple walk predominantly planted with ferns and hostas, a vegetable plot, three shrubberies and most recently a spinney planted with shade loving plants. They have opened their garden for the National Garden Scheme on a number of occasions as part of a group of Berkswell gardens raising over £30,000 for charity. -
Helen Jones
TreasurerHelen got into gardening when she bought her first house in her early 20s. She now has a garden that is a never ending project, so always has a good excuse to buy more plants! Her other passion is art, so she loves colour and design and finds that the 2 hobbies fit well together.
Helen joined BDHS about 10 years ago and says her gardening knowledge has greatly increased since being a member. For some mad reason she put her hand up at an AGM and offered to go on the committee. -
Alison Watson
Speakers -
Ann Fenton
Newsletter Editor -
Mary Cotterrell
Internal Auditor -
Edward Cotterrell
Committee MemberEdward was the 3rd of 7 children and grew up on a farm before serving 3 years in the RAF. He then worked on farms in the area, married Norma in 1958 and had two children, Robert and Helen. In the mid 1960s he became Farm manager at Wad Barn Farm in Berkswell with a milking herd of Ayrshires which he showed for the owners with some success. Sadly he was widowed in 1992.
In 1996 he married Mary and, after the cows were sold in 1997, he retired and they moved to a house at the other end of Berkswell. He then spent a number of years tending other people's gardens as well as making his own garden from scratch and keeping allotments going. It was also when he and Mary joined BDHS that he started showing at theirs and other shows, also showing his poultry at shows up to National level.
Along the way he and Mary have 9 grandchildren and more recently he has a great-granddaughter. Now in his late 80s he is just admitting to slowing down a little! -
David Cotterrell
Committee MemberFrom childhood I have been a keen gardener, growing a variety of vegetables, fruit and flowers, at home and on the Meriden allotment I had for over 30 years. After leaving farming I took a City and Guilds in Organic Gardening and gardened for a number of local people, though not necessarily organically! Of course I am now retired.
For 14years I was an organising member of Fillongley Show Horticultural section, and have been an active member of BDHS since 2000. Over the years I have had success in showing and in judging at various local Flower and Vegetable shows.
Through BDHS I have met many knowledgeable people in the horticultural world, visited outstanding places and made numerous good friends. -
Sue Edwards
Committee Member -
Doug Timmis
Committee MemberAn active member of the Methodist Church and Community in the village for many years.
Became an Allotment Holder with wife Sue in 2007. In 2011, shortly after joining the
Committee, liaised with the local Primary School, to encourage more children to be
involved in horticulture and our Annual Show. As a result, each year the School has held
an Annual Art Competition at our Show, with entrants from all age groups at the school.
It is hoped that in 2022, we will be holding the 10th Annual Competition. Each year, when Doug presents the Winning Certificates at
a full School Assembly, a cheque is presented to the School’s Nature Group as further
encouragement.
Doug, through his association with Springfield House Special School at Temple Balsall,
also collects from members any Supermarket vouchers when issued. These are used by
the school with the pupils.
In October 2012, won Second Place in Best Allotment at The Fillongley Agricultural
Society Show. Since then seems to have the National Collection of Convolvulus Arvensis.
In October 2012 organised, with considerable help from Committee and Members, a BBC
Recording of Gardeners Question Time for the village. The hall at the Heart of England
School was packed as GQT recorded two programmes on the same evening with the
same audience - for prime slots before and after end of that year.
In 2017 won The Deeley Challenge Cup for most points in Vegetable and Fruit Section at
The Annual Show, and in 2019, the Heart of England Trophy for Best Photographic Entry. -
Pet Hawley
Refreshments