Metasequoia glyptostroboides by Howard Rice
Friends’ News Friends of CUBG celebrate 30 years
Juliet Day
Your chief memory of summer 2012 may be of summer events cancelled due to torrential rain, but here at the Garden on the 24th May, we knew nothing of the deluges to come, and Friends attending our 30th anniversary party relaxed outside in warm evening sunshine. As one of our Friends and valued volunteers said, ‘The weather was perfect for an evening spent outdoors in a stunning setting, made even more special by the ensuing disappointing summer where these opportunities were few and far between’. many areas of activity from running the first shop to guiding, volunteering and of course supporting the Garden financially. The 1840 Wind Quartet provided a gently jazzy musical background to the hum of conversation, ensuring that new and long-standing Friends alike enjoyed a mellow and memorable evening’s celebration. May there be many more such celebrations to come.
Juliet Day
Heidi Bradshaw, Outreach Assistant
Guests gathered in front of the Glasshouse Range Chairs and tables set out in front of the Glasshouse Range were quickly occupied by some 120 guests enjoying canapés and wine provided by Swift Catering, who also run our Garden Café. The Garden seemed to glow in the golden light, and guests revelled in the chance to walk around the site in the peace of the out-of-hours Garden, wandering the Main Lawn with glasses in hand, and admiring the flourishing Bee Borders. One friend and volunteer commented, ‘It was a delight to be in the Garden, which was looking its best, on such a wonderful early summer’s evening.’ One of our guests of honour, Meg Brian, recalled how she was persuaded by the then Director, Dr Max Walters with his wife Lorna, to start from scratch the Friends of Cambridge University Botanic Garden during a relaxed tea in deck chairs on the lawn at Cory Lodge, then the Director’s residence: ‘The first step was to hand deliver letters to all those holding
‘Sunday keys’ to invite them to be involved. As it happened, over 250 people joined the Friends even before the ‘inaugural meeting’ when the committee was formed. As the main purpose of the Friends was both to raise money (in the first instance for the Gilmour Building) and to give help to staff, willing volunteers were also enlisted for training as Garden Guides.’ Meg noted that some of the most memorable money-raisers were ‘three concerts held in the central Tropical House just after it was rebuilt in 1987 but before the plants went in. And when the Gilmour Building opened in 1989, the Friends were responsible for equipping and organising the Shop and the kitchen, and began the serving of refreshments. Thus the Friends were helpful right from the start’. Dr Tim Upson, Curator and Acting Director, made a short speech thanking the Friends for all their support over the last thirty years in
Dr Tim Upson thanks the Friends for the support over the last 30 years
Apply for your tickets now to the Friends’ Annual Lecture:
Thinking like a vegetable – how plants decide what to do. Given by Professor Ottoline Leyser, Associate Director at the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University in the Sainsbury Laboratory Lecture Theatre on Thursday 8 November, doors open from 7pm. Please see the enclosed booking form for details. Friends’ News – Issue 90 – September 2012