Chairman’s Comments • Keith Redpath Group and the innovative progress in their food and flower business. Each visit was memorable, made even more special by the warmth of welcome by our hosts. In addition, we incorporated one or two cultural visits into the tour and learned about some of the history of the Scottish Borders. Summer shows On 15th August a group of us enjoyed an excellent day at Henley Regatta. We are indebted to Brenda Copas who kindly made this a great day out centered around their family hospitality facility on the banks of the Thames. Andrei and I also visited the Westmorland Show on 8th September where we hosted a reception for 50 Club members and friends. It was an incredibly hot day with temperatures reaching 30 degrees. Sadly, we had to pull out of holding a reception at the Royal Ulster Show, but we are committed to being back there next spring.
Chairman’s Comments “It continues to be a concern that we have as yet very little detail on what new support our governments across the UK are offering. This information is vital so we can plan for the future and continue to feed the nation, as well as maintain a prosperous agricultural industry.”
HOW things have changed over the last three months. We are now able to meet up more freely. Our confidence is growing as we attend a growing number of events as we come to terms with what I believe is the new normal, living with Covid 19. The four nations of the UK are moving out of restrictions at different speeds. Lessons have been learned about how to deal with protecting our health and well-being. A buzz in the Club Over the past three months I have been at the Club almost every week. It has been good to meet many members there. It is also encouraging to see business at the Club returning to pre-covid levels. Increasingly, accommodation has been fully booked and, at the same time, we have had functions going on which have made the public areas very busy, creating quite a buzz. On your behalf, I would like to thank our team for working so hard, with many of them multi-tasking when necessary to ensure we provide the level of service we have all come to expect. As you will know, the hospitality industry is under severe pressure at the moment and employing people to fill vacant positions is extremely difficult. Let’s hope this problem eases and we are able to recruit the number of staff we need to be able to operate efficiently. Borders visit Grace and I were delighted to welcome a lovely group of members to our home area in the Scottish Borders. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. I would like to thank Colin & Jill McGregor from Coldstream Mains, the Robson family from the Chain Bridge Honey Farm, and Jim Shanks and family for the visit to Standhill near Hawick. It was also good to have a talk from Gus Armstrong about the Greenvale
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Our final show visit this year was to Chelsea Flower Show on 23rd of September. It was the first time it had been held in the autumn. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there, rounding the day off with a Dinner back at the Club in the evening. Peter Seabrook was our after-dinner speaker, entertaining us with a humorous and informative talk about his life in horticulture. Harvest home The weather was kind to us during summer2021, which enabled us to complete harvest in good time. Most crops have been of good quality and here in the Scottish Borders moistures were lower than normal. Prices remain strong which will hopefully help us cope with the huge price increases we are facing for seed, fertiliser and chemicals as we plant next year’s crop. However, it continues to be a concern that we have, as yet, very little detail on what new support our governments across the UK are offering. This information is vital so we can plan for the future and continue to feed the nation, as well as maintain a prosperous agricultural industry. A wonderful year I have thoroughly enjoyed my year as Chairman over what has been a challenging time. It has been great meeting so many members that I have not known previously. I would personally like to thank Andrei, Virginia and the team for making me so welcome. It has been a pleasure working with you all. I am sure John will enjoy his year as Chairman in 2022. May I take this opportunity to wish him all the best. And now, may I wish each one of you a Happy Christmas and a prosperous 2022.
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