Birthday Wishes to the most important person in the Forum

[Maggi Young]

Birthday Wishes are in order today to the most important person in the Forum - without this person we would have no forum and no means to form the close and happy community we enjoy here.

Yes, it is Fred Admin's Birthday!!
      

Many happy returns of the day, dear Fred - we know we couldn't do any of this without you - and truly, we DO appreciate it!

Lots of love, Maggi

[Maggi Young]

In response to those who have asked what gift Fred is being given to celebrate his birthday, 
I will reveal the secret gift here .......   ( it's in the post     )

[admin]

Just what I need!

 

[sippa]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRED, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GOOD WORK.  HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

MARIANNE

[David Nicholson]

Happy Birthday Fred, I'll get my Malt out if you'll get yours

[Paddy Tobin]

Happy Birthday, Fred. And many thanks.

[angie]

Happy birthday Fred, hope you had a wonderful day. Thanks for giving up so much of your time to this forum, it brings so many of us together from all over the world 

Angie 

[fermi de Sousa]

Happy Birthday for yesterday, Fred,
may the trout always be biting when you're in the mood for standing in the middle of a cold, clear stream!
cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

Now that Fred has been formally told of his award of Honorary Vice President of the SRGC, we can add our congratulations here   

 Primarily Fred was given this award to acknowledge  his tireless efforts on the SRGC Website,  and  certainly that dedication is more than worthy of such recognition but many may not know that Fred has served the SRGC in other capacities over many years.

As a local group member in Aberdeenshire, he was a great  supporter  of the Show - giving transport for tables and so on. He has been a successful exhibitor at shows and has also sold  excellent plants at shows from his former nursery , Tough Alpines. For several years he was the Club's picture manager   for the Journal, under the Editorship of Alistair McKelvie.  We have also benefited from his experiences in seed hunting in the wild and from introductions made from his travels in the Himalayas. His former home at Tough, high in one of the coldest places in Aberdeenshire was a perfect place to grow high alpines !
So, you see, "our" Fred, who may seem something of an invisible figure, has a long history with the club and this honour is  a very well-deserved award for his years of dedication.
Without Fred the Club would not, could not,  have the "footprint"  it now has in the world of plants,  both bringing the Club and its members together from around the world and sharing all of this with a wider public.

Charge your glasses, ladies and gentlemen and raise a toast to Fred Carrie  Hon. Vice President of the Scottish Rock Garden Club  !

[David Nicholson]

Heartily seconded. Richly deserved Fred.

[shelagh]

Thanks Fred and congratulations.

[ichristie]

Well done Fred a very well deserved award, I did enjoy our trips together in Nepal fond memories of the Goat curries and the clinging leaches, cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[Maggi Young]

Oh, goat curries and clinging leaches - I thought you meant goat curries and cling peaches - well you do read of explorers surving on tinned fruit........ 

[Steve Garvie]

Maggi you deep fry them to make Black Pudding and other assorted bush tucker!   
If I'd known it was your birthday I would have arranged for you to sample some .......yum!

(I picked this beastie off my neck whilst in Sinharaja Rain Forest, Sri Lanka searching for the cute wee Serendip Scops Owl).

[admin]

Thanks, the honour  was completely unexpected.

The original driver of the SRGC web presence was Barry Caudwell,  so let's not forget Barry or Maggi and Ian Young who do an extraordinary amount of work  for the club, far more than most could possibly realise.   Although the forum was originally instigated by myself its  real success is entirely down to the members who participate. So give yourselves all a hearty slap on  the back and keep it out there leading the pack.

The SRGC is pretty special.