What will we be covering

Who set up the Society What happened after World War 2 The Society grows Publications The committee and its make up Website A group of enthusiasts in the lake district set up the Society in 1891 It was originally called the Northern British Pteridological Society

This picture was taken the next year in1892 1892 it changed to The British Pteridological Society

The name changed as SOME of the most prominent men came from Ireland and further south The membership was about 40 Stansfield was invited to be the first president Dr W.F. Stansfield the first President The beginning of a long family association He and his son in law Percy Greenfield were very important members The man himself

Ran his own nursery at Todmorden and then qualified as a Doctor President 3 times 1892-1897 1902-1904 1907-1908 Secretary 1926-1937 Editor of The Fern Gazette 1917-1937 As well as Treasurer in1926 Charles Druery

Polystichum setiferum ‘Plumosum Druery’ Raised1900 The power house of the early society

Set up The Fern Gazette issued quarterly Did most of the writing And the spread of information encouraged more people to join Numbers of members increased due to the Gazette Born 1843 died 1917 He was also an excellent grower More of Druery He published many books for the Society British and Their Varieties still used as a bible today The Book of British Ferns As well as Choice Ferns Also President of the Society 1898-1901 Set up and edited The Fern Gazette from 1909 to 1916. Do not Panic!

We are not doing a Frond by Frond account ! Cranfield president 1920- 1948

Collector of fern collections Lot of his ferns were lost A lot were at the back of his garden and were ‘flame gunned’ for growing veg.

Southport Flower Show 1938

Cranfield exhibit – Challenge Trophy For a 10x10ft display of ferns Time was running out or was it!

1938 was a point were the Society was showing its age Membership was in decline The Society stops everything from 1939-1946 1944 a close run thing

Jimmy Dyce the ‘Fern Maniac’ (his words) What was left of a committee, 6 members Some decide it might be best to let it die gracefully Jimmy Dyce supported by and Percy Greenfield persuade the committee to continue Greenfield and Dyce Within a year Jimmy is the Treasurer and Membership Secretary He raised the membership to 100

Percy Greenfield is Secretary and described as the greatest President we never had Scientific President

A.H.G Aliston President A professional botanist at what is now the Natural History Museum After this, Presidents would alternate between scientific and horticultural Southport Flower Show 1949

Exhibit by BPS member Mr. C. W. Grubb (he joined in 1934!) who won many prizes for BPS at Southport and later became a judge. Irene Manton President

Brilliant scientist Sorted out the chromosomes of many ferns especially Society starts to change

Left to right Jimmy Dyce, Reginald Kaye and R E Holltum The Society starts to become more scientific than horticultural Clive Jermy 1960s onward

Changes The Fern Gazette from an in- house catch-all to a scientific journal The Bulletin becomes the new in- house magazine Head of ‘ferns and allies’ at the Natural History museum Martin Rickard

Well known fern expert and fern grower

Martin on the Bowdens stand at Chelsea

Polypodium cambricum (semilacerum President in 1997-2001 group) Rickard Martin the Fern Man

His knowledge on and is exceptional He started the Pteridologist magazine which is the most eagerly awaited publication of the year Jimmy leaves us

Was active in the Society In his 90s And died in 1998 The Society grows

With a big mix of science and ecology the Society grows More institutions join the Society The membership increases to 700-800 Alison Paul has edited The Bulletin since 1987 Regional Groups

Matt Busby set up the first regional group in the Midlands in 1975 These groups are the power house of the Society Also was secretary for 20 years Now we have the following groups, in Scotland East Anglia North-West England South Wales and Borders Yorkshire Cornwall and Devon Manchester and North Midlands Wessex Midlands South-East England North Wales Four publications a year: Pteridologist – a full colour magazine. Bulletin – an annual account of the Society’s activities. The Fern Gazette – a twice yearly peer reviewed scientific journal. Occasional Special Publications. + electronic mailings several times a year The Committee

THE COMMITTEE The Committee consists of Executive Officers, Vice-presidents, Officers (all three groups collectively are the Officers of the Society), and Elected Committee Members, all of whom are elected and have full voting rights. Co-opted Members and Committee Appointment holders may attend committee meetings when appropriate, but do not have voting rights. All of the aforementioned groups receive all committee papers.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS President:: for 3 years (not eligible for re-election for 3 years following) President elect General Secretary: Committee Secretary: Treasurer:

OFFICERS Vice-Presidents: (Max. 6, elected for 3 years, eligible for re-election on retirement) Membership Secretary: Meetings Secretary: Conservation Officer: Publications Secretary: Editors for Pteridologist: Fern Gazette: Bulletin: Web site co-ordinator: Publicity and Marketing Officer: Education Officer: Elected members

ELECTED COMMITTEE MEMBERS Max.10, annual re- election; retirement after 5 years - not eligible for re-election for at least one year thereafter. Other appointments CO-OPTED MEMBERS COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Spore Exchange Organiser: Exchange Organiser: Book sales Organiser: Fern Gazette Production Editor: Review Editors: Pteridologist Assistant Editor Special Publications Editor:

Manager of Special Publications and SUBCOMMITTEES Back-Numbers of Journals: Publications Sub-Committee: Merchandise Organisers: Meetings Sub-Committee: Horticultural Information Adviser: Cultivar Registration Sub-Committee: Archivist:: Education Sub-Committee: Data Integrity Officer: Web team: Recorder: TRUSTEES OF GREENFIELD FUND Reading Circle Organiser: TRUSTEES OF CENTENARY FUND BPS REPRESENTATIVES Website and Internet

This is the future to draw in more people www.eBPS.org.uk Face Book, Twitter, blogs etc RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW FERN STAND 1991

Ferns were collected at Wisley and loaned by BPS members Robert Bolton; Matt Busby; Ray Coughlin; Jimmy Dyce; Reg Kaye; Hazel Key; Martin Rickard and John Woodhams from Kew. 2016 – OUR 125TH YEAR We had lots of special events.

• Chelsea Flower Show • Weekend display in Wisley Glasshouse • Week-long meeting in Cumbria where the Society began • Autumn Meeting at Harlow Carr with international speakers

• And special commemorative merchandise was produced The plan for our 125th BPS stand at Chelsea Flower Show in May 2016 One of our members, Ann Robbins, organises Chelsea She coordinated everything The plan The paper work Transport Build up Break down Many members helped

Ferns for house and conservatory by Tim Pyner Ferns for damp places by Julian Reed