Top honour for Dave the dahlia grower
DAHLIA grower David Reid has been awarded the highest honour from the national society for the genus.
The National Dahlia Society in the UK has given the Barlestone-based grower a gold medal in recognition of decades of service to the group representing his favourite flower.
Mr Reid has served on the society’s executive for 34 years and is currently its treasurer.
The top honour, which is held by only two other people, comes on the back of a silver medal he received from the National Dahlia Society of the USA two years ago.
He was presented with the award - a solid gold medal on a ribbon - at the society’s annual general meeting this year by its president Ron Guest.
Mr Reid, who has been involved with Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) dahlia trials for 14 years, said: “Our society is growing where others, like crysanthemums, are falling.
“We have 1,700 mem- bers and two national shows up.”
The society will be staging a five-day show at RHS Garden Wisley in September, which is expected to attract up to 45,000 visitors across the week, and will be exhibiting at the major coming Harrogate autumn.
Mr Reid has been growing the distincitve blooms since the early 1970s after moving to Barlestone in 1969 following Royal Naval Service.
Origainally from Scotland, he is also a keen veg- Show this etable grower and ment holder.
In 1987, a Gardeners’ World programme was filmed at his former allotment in Osbaston, presented by the late Geoff Hamilton.
Mr Reid now tends a plot in Newbold Verdon. allot-