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BNCS Former Presidents pre 1960

There now follows a list of all the previous presidents of the Society, some with brief historical notes. Please let me have any further information to publish on the web.

-1944 Lady Brodie Henderson

-1945 and 1946, Montagu C Allwood.
RHS representative on the PF Carnation Committee. Died 24 July 1958

-1947 and 1962, E R Carter .
A keen grower and exhibitor of PF’s. Member of the old BCS and RHS representative on the Joint PF Carnation Committee and subsequently of the joint BNCS/RHS PF Committee.

-1948, A F Dutton.
Well known PF Carnation grower, Nureryies Iver , Bucks. Died Jan 12th 1954, aged 76. One of the pioneers of PF growing in the UK, and breeder of these. Frequent and successful exhibitor, won Daily Mail Gold Cup in March 1927, at that time offered by the BCS for the best scented British raised carnation , with velvety crimson Mrs A J Cobb. Also keenly interested in Chrysanthemums. Whilst he concentrated on the production of first class flowers, his brother, A B Dutton , supervised the selling side of the business at Covent Garden Market.

The above were all prominent members and Presidents of the old British carnation Society, which in 1949 amalgamated with the National Carnation and Picotee Society [founded 1877], to become the British National Carnation Society. George Monro was elected the new Society’s President.

-1949 G Monro CBE VMH. – of Monro’s, Covent Garden Market, he gave full support to the old British Carnation Society, established beginning 20th century, twice President and chairman of the Joint [RHS/Carnation Society] P-F Carnation Committee and of the Joint Dianthus Committee. He died in Nov. 1951

-1950 W G Ferris

-1951 A B Dutton.

-1952 S L Lord Stanley Lord was a professional gardener, appointed to lay out the grounds of Shenley Hospital when it was being built, eventually comprised of some 130 acres. When the Hospital was opened in 1933 Mr Lord was appointed Garden Superintendent. A keen grower, exhibitor and judge of p-f carnations, he was also awarded several gold medals for exhibits of fruit, being an active member of the RHS Fruit Group. A keen member of the Committee of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society, and was made an Associate of Honour, RHS in 1956. He also conducted trials of varieties of p-f carnations at Shenley with a view to ascertaining their winter flowering qualities.

-1953 H V Wayt
-1954 L Mason : Leslie Mason was a member of the Mason family who produced large quantities of flowers and vegetables for the London market from the early 1800s onwards, and whose father was one of the original members of the British Carnation Society, becoming both its Chairman and President. Leslie Mason’s Carnation Nursery was situated at Hampton, Middlesex. He served on the Council of that Society before the amalgamation of the two Societies and served on the committee which brought about the amalgamation in 1949. He also served as a BCS representative on the Joint P-F Carnation Committee since its inception and continued to do so following the amalgamation. A keen grower, exhibitor and judge of Carnations, a breeder interested in raising new varieties with a view to their suitability for market requirements.

-1955 F R McQuown: Barrister by profession. RHS representative of the combined Carnation and Pinks committee. A keen grower and exhibitor of pinks, and raiser of many fine laced pinks with the prefix ‘London’. Author of ‘Pinks, cultivation and Selection’ in 1955, and of ‘Carnations and Pinks’ in 1965, also of the pinks Register, published by the BNCS in 1952

-1956 E Englemann: Owner of the oldest established P-f Carnation specialist nursery concern in Europe, originally founded by his father in 1897, with 9 acres of glass, mostly devoted to carnations. Eric spent a decade working in and studying horticulture in Europe and N. America before returning to the family business as its Managing Director. A member of the British Carnation Society and RHS representative on the joint BCS/RHS P-f Carnation committee, under the Chairmanship of George Monro, and following the amalgamation a tireless member of Council and BCNS committees including that set up to instigate Plant Varieties Rights.

-1957 E A Tickle

-1958 Lt Col James

-1959 C J Horwood; Owner of Basingstoke Joint Nurseries, member of Council of BCS and BCNS. Also BCS representative on joint BCS/RHS P-f Carnation Committee, and subsequently of the Joint BCNS/RHS P-f Committee.