A CLUB founded to help dig for victory in the Second World War is celebrating its 75th anniversary by welcoming a plant hunter who was kidnapped by guerrillas.
Tom Hart Dyke will speak at the birthday meeting of the East Reading Horticultural Society (ERHS) meeting on Tuesday, March 15. He was kidnapped in the Colombian jungle on a plant hunting expedition that went dangerously wrong in the year 2000. He and his travelling companion, Paul Winder, were held by guerrillas for nine months.
The club’s meeting is the latest in a series of special events for the club.
John Peacock, Chair of ERHS, told The Wokingham Paper: “Five years ago we had Pippa Greenwood talking to us” said Mr Peacock. “For our 60th AGM Alan Titchmarsh came. We have five talks a year mainly on horticultural subjects, but it’s nice to have someone special for our anniversaries.”
The club was launched in 1941, helping allotment holders and gardeners by supplying seeds from Suttons, together with fertilisers and garden sundries and to give advice where possible.
“The aims of the founder members have remained the same,” said Mr Peacock.
“The 900 members of ERHS enjoy a monthly newsletter, a trading shed where members can buy Suttons Seeds at 50% discount and a monthly talk on horticultural subjects. And all for a membership fee of £2 a year.”
The club meets at St Peter’s church hall, Church Road in Earley.
For more details log on to www.erhs.org.uk
