A ‘FOCUS group’ could be established to help organise Musselburgh’s annual community flower and crafts show and ensure it continues to be part of the town’s calendar of events.
Volunteers are needed to share the planning and production of the show, which is held in the summer at St Michael’s Church Hall on Dalrymple Loan.
Eve Dickinson said that she was “happy” to remain president of Musselburgh Horticultural Society (MHS), arranging guest speakers, fun nights and the annual plant sale, but added: “We really need a dedicated team to take over the annual community flower and crafts show if it is to continue.”
She added: “Myself and a few other committee members would be very willing to assist such a scheme.
“Our show is a much different event from the mega show that was held pre-Covid at the Brunton Hall.
“It is now a community day to encourage local amateur gardeners and crafters to exhibit what they have achieved in the preceding year, to share produce that they have grown or made, rather than a national show with hugely experienced growers astounding us with fabulous exhibits.
“Our show is not for them, it is for local people to participate and have fun and to enable children to have a greater involvement.
“What is really needed is a dedicated team to be a ‘focus group’ that will share the planning and production of the flower show.
“It would actually be quite an easy task for a committed small team, as I have all the information and documents required to get the show up and running smoothly if some local people would like to take it on.
“It would require a group of three to four people to meet once a month, probably for an hour in January, February, May, July and early August, to check that the roles they have adopted are on track.
“They would report back to myself and the MHS committee as necessary.
“They would always have the experience of myself and my committee to back them up but, without new younger ‘investors’ in the future of the community flower and crafts show, it will not continue into 2025.”
She continued: “I have decided that, in order to keep MHS viable for a while longer, I have to find new people to run it so that I can concentrate on what is of the greatest benefit to our members.
“The plant sale, I can manage for the time being but that would be the next loss in the long term.”
Eve has served as president since November 2020, having joined the horticultural society about 10 years ago, succeeding Adrian McDowell.
He was also a “valued” committee member and, although now retired from the committee, is still a member of the society.
Anyone interested in joining the focus group should email Musselburghhorticulturalsociety@hotmail.com
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