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The President 2008

Mr Hylton Oberst
Acceptance Speech
It was in 1964, when I was between jobs, and therefore on what the City describes as ‘gardening leave’ that the BNCS June Show, then held in the RHS New Hall in Westminster fell – as it often does – on my birthday. At the show as I was admiring the magnificent display of dianthus of all three species, 1 met someone who felt that she owed me a birthday present, and promptly enrolled me in the Society. That was nearly 44 years ago and I have been a member ever since. In those days I was growing a few Show Pinks and some Border Carnations that I had bought from the House of Douglas at Great Bookham in Surrey. Some of their cultivars survive to this day – Edenside White is one that I still have. I also bought Borders from Charlie Fielder of Lindabruce Nurseries. But Borders are not long-lived perennials and unless carefully propagated every year are soon lost. So it was, with the pressures of business and visits overseas, I frequently had to restock completely and I became a regular customer of the late John Galbally, many of whose fine varieties are happily still with us. I am particularly pleased to know that Peter Booker is growing many of them commercially. But little did I think, in those far-off days, that one day I should be proposed and elected as President of the British National Carnation Society. Still less did I think that I should be receiving the badge of office from none other than Eileen Galbally whom I well remember from those Summer Shows in the RHS Hall. I was elected to the Council in 1999 and since then have served – off and on – in a number of capacities, especially that of Honorary Treasurer for three years which has left me with a feeling of profound sympathy for all those who follow in that office. It is certainly no sinecure. I cannot help noticing that while we do, happily, seem to attract some fresh young faces on to the Council – some of them are here today – the Presidents never seem to get any younger. Perhaps it is like being a member of the House of Commons who is ‘kicked upstairs’ to the House of Lords, or simply ’ put out to grass’ as we do with old horses. Whatever the reason for my election, I do regard it as an honour, and I hope to uphold the traditions of the office and of the Society during the coming year. There are fewer of us than there used to be, but it is still a great Society,
So, thank you all.